Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being overly skeptical can prevent you from accepting new and innovative ideas.
Carl Sagan emphasizes that a mindset dominated by skepticism can create barriers to the acceptance of new concepts and ideas. This suggests that while skepticism has its place in critical thinking, an open mind is essential for creativity, discovery, and intellectual growth. Without the willingness to entertain new thoughts, one may miss opportunities for enlightenment and advancement.
Themes
SkepticismNew IdeasOpennessCreativityIntellectual Growth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used during a lecture on innovation to encourage students to remain open-minded.
More from Carl Sagan
All quotes βIn more than one respect, the exploring of the Solar System and homesteading other worlds constitutes the beginning, much more than the end, of history.
Carl SaganRead
How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
Carl SaganRead
The hole in the ozone layer is a kind of skywriting. At first it seemed to spell out our continuing complacency before a witch's brew of deadly perils. But perhaps it really tells of a newfound talent to work together to protect the global environment.
Carl SaganRead
There is a reward structure in science that is very interesting: Our highest honors go to those who disprove the findings of the most revered among us. So Einstein is revered not just because he made so many fundamental contributions to science, but because he found an imperfection in the fundamental contribution of Isaac Newton.
Carl SaganRead
The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Carl SaganRead
Similar quotes
Compared to what we ought to be, we are half awake.
William JamesRead
Has worrying about tomorrow every changed it?
Max LucadoRead
Jessica stopped beside him, said: 'What delicious abandon in the sleep of a child.' He spoke mechanically: 'If only adults could relax like that.' 'Yes.' 'Where do we lose it?' he murmured. 'We do, indeed, lose something,' she said.
Frank HerbertRead
The cynics are right nine times out of ten.
H. L. MenckenRead
The first step is to measure whatever can easily be measured. This is OK as far as it goes. The second step is to disregard that which can't be easily measured or to give it an arbitrary quantitative value. This is artificial and misleading. The third step is to presume that what can't be measured easily really isn't important. This is blindness. The fourth step is to say that what can't be easily measured really doesn't exist. This is suicide.
Charles HandyRead
I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think that if we shut out all the noise and clutter from our lives and listen to that voice, it will tell us the right thing to do.
Christopher ReeveRead