The way to find out about our place in the universe is by examining the universe and by examining ourselves - without preconceptions, with as unbiased a mind as we can muster. Carl Sagan More Quotes by Carl Sagan More Quotes From Carl Sagan The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Carl Sagan compassion humility thinking I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students. Carl Sagan learning education school The cosmos is full beyond measure of elegant truths; of exquisite interrelationships; of the awesome machinery of nature. Carl Sagan machinery exquisite cosmos Even today the most jaded city dweller can be unexpectedly moved upon encountering a clear night sky studded with thousands of twinkling stars. When it happens to me after all these years it still takes my breath away. Carl Sagan stars night years The prediction I can make with the highest confidence is that the most amazing discoveries will be the ones we are not today wise enough to foresee. Carl Sagan wise discovery today We all have a thirst for wonder. It's a deeply human quality. Science and religion are both bound up with it. What I'm saying is, you don't have to make stories up, you don't have to exaggerate. There's wonder and awe enough in the real world. Nature's a lot better at inventing wonders than we are. Carl Sagan quality real stories It is said that men may not be the dreams of the god, but rather that the gods are the dreams of men. Carl Sagan god dream inspirational Arguments from authority carry little weight – authorities have made mistakes in the past. They will do so again in the future. Perhaps a better way to say it is that in science there are no authorities; at most, there are experts. Carl Sagan mistake way past There are as many atoms in one molecule of DNA as there are stars in a typical galaxy. Carl Sagan typical dna stars The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean. From it we have learned most of what we know. Recently, we have waded a little out to sea, enough to dampen our toes or, at most, wet our ankles. The water seems inviting. The ocean calls. Carl Sagan ocean sea water We on Earth have just awakened to the great oceans of space and time from which we have emerged. Carl Sagan ocean space earth The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean. Carl Sagan ankles cosmos ocean I believe that in every person is a kind of circuit which resonates to intellectual discovery-and the idea is to make that resonance work Carl Sagan discovery science believe There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question. Carl Sagan dumb criticism self In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist's signature. Carl Sagan space nature art If the constellations had been named in the twentieth century, I suppose we would see bicycles and refrigerators in the sky. Carl Sagan tandem-bikes biking century Looking at fires when high, by the way, especially through one of those prism kaleidoscopes which image their surroundings, is an extraordinarily moving and beautiful experience. Carl Sagan fire beautiful moving 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. Carl Sagan fighting wise believe Modern science has been a voyage into the unknown, with a lesson in humility waiting at every stop. Many passengers would rather have stayed home. Carl Sagan humility home science We are one species. We are starstuff. Carl Sagan vastness species universe
