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For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.

Carl Sagan

There are as many atoms in one molecule of DNA as there are stars in a typical galaxy.
CARL SAGAN

Atom DNA Galaxy Molecule Science Stars Typical
A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called “leaves”) imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles.
CARL SAGAN

Assemble Book Leaf Print Tree
There are no forbidden questions in science, no matters too sensitive or delicate to be probed, no sacred truths.
CARL SAGAN

Delicate Forbidden Matter Scare Science Sensitive Truth
Those at too great a distance may, I am well are, mistake ignorance for perspective.
CARL SAGAN

Distance Greatness Ignorance Mistake Perspective
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life.
CARL SAGAN

Earth Harbor Life
Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.
CARL SAGAN

Body Knowledge Science Thinking
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

Argument Authority Expert Future Mistake Past Weight
Other things being equal, it is better to be smart than to be stupid.
CARL SAGAN

Equality Inspirational Smart Stupidity
The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.
CARL SAGAN

Atom Beauty Cosmic Couple Live Marriage Togetherness
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.
CARL SAGAN

Apple Blood Calcium DNA Interior Nitrogen Stars Teeth
We live in a vast and awesome universe in which, daily, suns are made and worlds destroyed, where humanity clings to an obscure clod of rock.
CARL SAGAN

Awesome Cling Destroy Humanity Live Rock Sun Universe Vast World
I’ve always thought an agnostic is an atheist without the courage of his convictions.
CARL SAGAN

Atheist Conviction Courage
We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.
CARL SAGAN

Butterfly Forever Human Nature Thinking
The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.
CARL SAGAN

Brain Feeling Goodness Joy Muscle Understand
Where we have strong emotions, we’re liable to fool ourselves.
CARL SAGAN

Atheist Emotion Fools Liable Ourselves Strong
The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.
CARL SAGAN

Exclusive Mutual Notion Science Spiritual

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.

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For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.

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