Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
You can get into a habit of thought in which you enjoy making fun of all those other people who don't see things as clearly as you do. We have to guard carefully against it.
Interpretation
This quote warns against the arrogance of believing one's perspective is superior to others'.
Carl Sagan is emphasizing the importance of humility in our thinking. He cautions against falling into a habit of dismissing others' viewpoints simply because we believe we understand things more clearly. This tendency to mock others not only reflects a lack of empathy but also limits our own growth and understanding, as it may prevent us from considering valuable perspectives different from our own.
In practice
In a discussion about differing viewpoints, this quote can remind attendees to maintain respect and humility.
Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
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.
How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
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.
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.
The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Whosoever is determined to seek guidance and follow a path of right conduct must search for a shaykh from amongst those who have realization, one who follows a path methodically, who has abandoned his passions, and who has firmly established his feet in the service of his Lord.
Those who think they 'know' from the beginning will never in fact _x000D_ come to know anything.
If you have a temper, now is the time to learn to control it. The more you do so while you are young, the more easily it will happen.
The most noble _x000D_ cause known to man _x000D_ is the liberation _x000D_ of the human mind _x000D_ and spirit.
Evil can be opposed without being mirrored. Oppressors can be resisted without being emulated. Enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.
Intelligence is quickness to apprehend as distinct form ability, which is capacity to act wisely on the thing apprehended.
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