Life is a near-death experience.
George CarlinRead
You know something I could really do without? The Space Shuttle. ... It's irresponsible. The last thing we should be doing is sending our grotesquely distorted DNA out into space.
Interpretation
What this quote means
George Carlin critiques the idea of space exploration by highlighting the risks of sending humanity's flaws into the universe.
In this quote, George Carlin expresses his skepticism about space exploration, particularly the Space Shuttle program, by stating that humanity's imperfections should not be sent into space. He suggests that rather than reaching for the stars, we should focus on improving ourselves and addressing the issues that distort our very nature, implying that space travel may exacerbate rather than alleviate our flaws.
Themes
SpaceShuttleHumanityExplorationPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote to spark a discussion on the ethical implications of space exploration at a science symposium.
More from George Carlin
All quotes →Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: “We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car."
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If you've got a cat and a leg, you've got a happy cat. If you've got a cat and two legs, you've got a party.
George CarlinRead
This is a lttle prayer dedicated to the separation of church and state. I guess if they are going to force those kids to pray in schools they might as well have a nice prayer like this: Our Father who art in heaven, and to the republic for which it stands, thy kingdom come, one nation indivisible as in heaven, give us this day as we forgive those who so proudly we hail. Crown thy good into temptation but deliver us from the twilight's last gleaming. Amen and Awomen.
George CarlinRead
Some people try to get out of jury duty by lying. You don't have to lie. Tell the judge the truth. Tell him you'd make a terrific juror because you can spot guilty people.
George CarlinRead
Intelligence tests are biased toward the literate.
George CarlinRead
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If we are not even free anymore to decide something as basic as what we wish to eat or drink, how much freedom do we really have left?
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If a witch needs something, another witch will give it to her. If there is war to be fought, we don't consider cost one of the factors in deciding whether or not it is right to fight. Nor do we have any notion of honor. An insult to a bear is a deadly thing. To us...inconceivable. How could you insult a witch? What would it matter if you did?
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Cruelty hardens and degrades, kindness reforms and ennobles.
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If our planet has seen some eighty billion people it is difficult to suppose hat every individual has had his or her own repertory of gestures. Arithmetically, it is simply impossible. Without the slightest doubt, there are far fewer gestures in the world than there are individuals. That finding leads us to a shocking conclusion: a gesture is more individual than an individual. We could put it in the form of an aphorism: many people, few gestures.
Milan KunderaRead