I maintain there is much more wonder in science than in pseudoscience. And in addition, to whatever measure this term has any meaning, science has the additional virtue, and it is not an inconsiderable one, of being true. Carl Sagan More Quotes by Carl Sagan More Quotes From Carl Sagan The words "question" and "quest" are cognates. Only through inquiry can we discover truth. Carl Sagan inquiry quests truth But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright Brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown. Carl Sagan laughter brother funny I also wish that the Pledge of Allegiance were directed at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as it is when the President takes his oath of office, rather than to the flag and the nation Carl Sagan oath-of-office rights wish We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still. Carl Sagan wanderers cosmos stills The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas. Carl Sagan argument science ideas While our behavior is still significantly controlled by our genetic inheritance, we have, through our brains, a much richer opportunity to blaze new behavioral and cultural pathways on short timescales. Carl Sagan brain opportunity science Cosmos is a Greek word for the order of the universe. It is, in a way, the opposite of Chaos. It implies the deep interconnectedness of all things. It conveys awe for the intricate and subtle way in which the universe is put together. Carl Sagan greek opposites order If you want to save your child from polio, you can pray or you can inoculate....Try science. Carl Sagan atheist children religion I set before you two ways: You can use your technology to destroy yourselves or to carry you to the planets and the stars. It's up to you. Carl Sagan technology stars two If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth. Carl Sagan cosmos community loyalty The visions we offer our children shape the future. Carl Sagan vision shapes children The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars. Carl Sagan one-day stars sky The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no in the endeavor of science. We do not know in advance who will discover fundamental insights. Carl Sagan science ideas knowledge Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring fable. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal. Carl Sagan custodians purpose goal People are not stupid. They believe things for reasons. The last way for skeptics to get the attention of bright, curious, intelligent people is to belittle or condescend or to show arrogance toward their beliefs. Carl Sagan intelligent stupid believe A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called "leaves") imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles. One glance at it and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time ― proof that humans can work magic. Carl Sagan reading inspirational funny The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition. Carl Sagan ambition perfect science Except for children (who don't know enough not to ask the important questions), few of us spendtime wondering why nature is the way it is . . . Carl Sagan nature important children But down deep, at the molecular heart of life we're essentially identical to trees. Carl Sagan identical heart tree Not explaining science seems to me perverse. When you're in love, you want to tell the world. Carl Sagan want love-you world