Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
Avoidable human misery is more often caused not so much by stupidity as by ignorance, particularly our ignorance about ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human suffering often arises from a lack of self-awareness rather than outright foolishness.
Carl Sagan's quote emphasizes that much of the preventable suffering in humanity stems from ignorance, especially regarding our true nature and capabilities. This ignorance can lead to misguided actions and decisions, highlighting the importance of self-knowledge and introspection in alleviating misery and fostering a more enlightened society.
Themes
IgnoranceSelf-AwarenessSufferingHumanityKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of education, one could reference Sagan's quote to emphasize the need for self-awareness in tackling social issues.
More from Carl Sagan
All quotes →In 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
You can’t look too far ahead. Do that and you’ll lose sight of what you’re doing and stumble. I’m not saying you should focus solely on the details right in front of you, mind you. You’ve got to look ahead a bit or else you’ll bump into something. You’ve got to conform to the proper order and at the same time keep an eye out for what’s ahead. That’s critical, no matter what you’re doing.
Haruki MurakamiRead
Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueller. And the day after tomorrow is beautiful.
Jack MaRead
I have a lot of what you might call creative self-loathing - I have pretty high expectations, and they seem to consistently be higher than what I'm able to accomplish.
Alejandro Gonzalez InarrituRead
If thou fill thy brain with Boston and New York, with fashion and covetousness, and wilt stimulate thy jaded senses with wine and French coffee, thou shalt find no radiance of wisdom in the lonely waste of the pinewoods.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
To learn about oneself, a living thing, you have to watch, learn anew each minute.
Jiddu KrishnamurtiRead
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
SolomonRead