Ten long trips around the sun since I last saw that smile, but only joy and thankfulness that on a tiny world in the vastness, for a couple of moments in the immensity of time, we were one.
Ann DruyanRead
Science reserves the highest reward for those of you who disprove our most cherished beliefs. At any moment someone from any walk of life could come forward and be responsible for a complete revision of our view of everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Science values those who challenge established beliefs, as they can lead to significant advancements in understanding.
This quote emphasizes the importance of skepticism and critical thinking in science. It suggests that true progress often comes from individuals who question accepted truths and challenge the status quo, potentially leading to a complete overhaul of our understanding of the universe. Ann Druyan highlights the unpredictable nature of discovery, implying that anyone, regardless of their background, can contribute to profound changes in knowledge and belief systems.
Themes
ScienceDisproveBeliefsProgressUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on scientific inquiry, this quote can be used to inspire students to embrace skepticism and innovation.
More from Ann Druyan
All quotes →I've been thinking about the distorted view of science that prevails in our culture. I've been wondering about this, because our civilization is completely dependent on science and high technology, yet most of us are alienated from science.
Ann DruyanRead
It is a great tragedy that science, this wonderful process for finding out what is true, has ceded the spiritual uplift of its central revelations: the vastness of the universe, the immensity of time, the relatedness of all life, and life's preciousness on our tiny planet.
Ann DruyanRead
Similar quotes
But I hope that it will also be demonstrated soon that in my experiments in the West I was not merely beholding a vision, but had caught sight of a great and profound truth.
Nikola TeslaRead
When the basic status of a theory is clear, and all that needs to be cleared are details, you can collaborate. But if the main structure of a hypothesis isn't established, and you want to change the paradigm - like it was the case in the 1960s - it's better to work alone.
Peter HiggsRead
If such a thing had happened once, it must surely have happened many times in this galaxy of a hundred billion suns.
Arthur C. ClarkeRead
Everyone in the astronaut program has a degree in a science field. The crew are the ones who do the experiments, help to design some of the experiments that come from other primary researchers. So it becomes very important that you have a science background.
Mae JemisonRead
Perhaps... some day the precision of the data will be brought so far that the mathematician will be able to calculate at his desk the outcome of any chemical combination, in the same way, so to speak, as he calculates the motions of celestial bodies.
Antoine LavoisierRead
In the real world, 90% of the money spent on medical research is focused on conditions that are responsible for just 10% of the deaths and disability caused by diseases globally.
Peter SingerRead