Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us -- there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the vastness of the universe and our deep emotional connection to it.
Carl Sagan's quote encapsulates the profound wonder and awe that humans feel when contemplating the universe. It suggests that exploring the cosmos evokes a sense of both curiosity and a recognition of our own insignificance, highlighting the mystery of existence and our place within it. This emotional response is not just an intellectual one; it resonates with deep-seated feelings of connection to the universe, as if we are tapping into a shared human experience of awe and humility in the face of the unknown.
Themes
CosmosUniverseMysteryWonderCuriosity
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the universe, one might say this quote to evoke wonder among students.
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.
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How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
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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.
Carl SaganRead
The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Carl SaganRead
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