Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
Modern science has been a voyage into the unknown, with a lesson in humility waiting at every stop. Many passengers would rather have stayed home.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Science often leads us to learn about the vast unknown, teaching us humility in the process.
Carl Sagan emphasizes that the journey of scientific discovery is filled with uncertainties, requiring explorers to confront the unknown. This path, while enriching, also reveals the limits of our understanding, making humility an essential lesson for those engaged in scientific inquiry, even as some may prefer the safety of familiarity over the challenges of exploration.
Themes
ScienceHumilityDiscoveryExplorationUnknown
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a science class to inspire students about the nature of scientific inquiry.
More from Carl Sagan
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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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