Carl Sagan

"The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true."

74 likes

Source: Wonder and Skepticism. The Skeptical Inquirer 19 (1), www.csicop.org. January/February 1995.

About the author

Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan

Astronomer, Astrophysicist

Carl Sagan was an influential astronomer and science communicator, known for his work 'Cosmos' and advocacy for scientific literacy.

All quotes by Carl Sagan →

Same author

More quotes by Carl Sagan

See all →
Carl Sagan Astronomer, Astrophysicist

"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring."

Read quote
Carl Sagan Astronomer, Astrophysicist

"One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back."

Read quote
Carl Sagan Astronomer, Astrophysicist

"The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff."

Read quote