Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
Perhaps the depth of love can be calibrated by the number of different selves that are actively involved in a given relationship.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quality of love is determined by how many aspects of ourselves we share with others in a relationship.
In this quote, Carl Sagan suggests that love is multifaceted and deepened by the diverse expressions of our identities in a relationship. A meaningful connection allows various 'selves'—our emotions, vulnerabilities, dreams, and experiences—to interact, which enriches the bond and deepens our understanding and appreciation for one another.
Themes
LoveRelationshipsSelfConnectionIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding speech, one can use this quote to emphasize the importance of sharing oneself in marriage.
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.
Carl SaganRead
How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
Carl SaganRead
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.
Carl SaganRead
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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