Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
There is much that science doesn't understand, many mysteries still to be resolved. In a Universe tens of billions of light-years across and some ten or fifteen billion years old, this may be the case forever. We are constantly stumbling on new surprises
Interpretation
What this quote means
Science has limitations, and there will always be mysteries beyond our understanding.
This quote by Carl Sagan reflects on the vastness of the universe and the inherent mysteries that science continues to face. Despite our advancements, there remains much that is unknown, suggesting that the pursuit of knowledge is a never-ending journey filled with surprises and challenges that may never be fully resolved.
Themes
ScienceMysteriesUniverseKnowledgeCuriosity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a scientific presentation to emphasize the importance of ongoing research.
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.
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The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
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