Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
We are rare and precious because we are alive, because we can think as well as we can. We are privileged to influence and perhaps control our future. I believe we have an obligation to fight for life on Earth - not just for ourselves, but for all those, humans and others, who came before us, and to whom we are beholden, and for all those who, if we are wise enough, will come after.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the unique value of human life and our responsibility to protect the future of all living beings.
Carl Sagan highlights the preciousness of life and the intellectual capabilities that allow humans to shape their own destinies. He underscores the moral responsibility we carry not only for ourselves but also for previous and future generations, urging us to advocate for the well-being of all life on Earth.
Themes
LifeResponsibilityFutureEnvironmentHumans
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at an environmental conference.
More from Carl Sagan
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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.
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The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
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