Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
Who are we, if not measured by our impact on others? That’s who we are! We’re not who we say we are, we’re not who we want to be - we are the sum of the influence and impact that we have, in our lives, on others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our true identity is defined by the positive effects we have on others rather than our self-perceptions.
This quote highlights the essence of human identity as being intrinsically connected to the impact we make on the lives of others. Carl Sagan emphasizes that it is not our self-proclaimed identity or aspirations that define us, but rather the influence we wield in our interactions and relationships, which shapes who we truly are.
Themes
IdentityImpactInfluenceRelationshipMeaning
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about community service.
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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