Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
We are not without empathetic terror when we open Pascal's 'Pensees' and read, 'I am the great silent spaces between worlds.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the profound connection between existence and the vast, often unarticulated experiences of life.
Carl Sagan's reference to Pascal's quote highlights the awe and terror we may feel when contemplating the vast silence of the universe and our place within it. The 'great silent spaces between worlds' suggests that there is much about existence that remains unspoken and unknown, evoking both a sense of wonder and existential dread.
Themes
ExistenceUniverseSilenceConnectionAwe
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the mysteries of life in a philosophy class.
More from Carl Sagan
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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.
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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.
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The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
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