Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
We on Earth have just awakened to the great oceans of space and time from which we have emerged. We are the legacy of 15 billion years of cosmic evolution. We have a choice: We can enhance life and come to know the universe that made us, or we can squander our 15 billion-year heritage in meaningless self-destruction. What happens in the first second of the next cosmic year depends on what we do, here and now, with our intelligence and our knowledge of the cosmos.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes humanity's connection to the cosmos and the importance of choices in shaping our future.
Carl Sagan's quote reflects on humanity's place in the vast universe, highlighting our emergence from billions of years of cosmic evolution. He urges us to appreciate our heritage and use our intelligence to enhance life and understand the universe, rather than engaging in self-destructive behaviors that would undermine our legacy.
Themes
CosmosLegacyEvolutionIntelligenceChoices
In practice
Example use cases
This quote would be a powerful opener for a speech about environmental responsibility and our role in preserving life on Earth.
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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