The significance of our lives and our fragile planet is then determined only by our own wisdom and courage. We are the custodians of life's meaning. We long for a Parent to care for us, to forgive us our errors, to save us from our childish mistakes. But knowledge is preferable to ignorance. 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.
atheism god knowledge meaning purpose religion truth
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About This Quote

About Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan was a 20th-century American scientist and science communicator. Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist and science communicator. Initially an assistant professor at Harvard, Sagan later moved to Cornell, where he was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • God — Spiritual reflections on the divine, faith, and creation
  • Knowledge — The pursuit of learning, understanding, and intellectual growth
  • Religion — Exploring belief systems, worship, and spiritual practice
  • Truth — Meditations on honesty, authenticity, and the search for truth

More quotes by Carl Sagan

“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
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“We are star stuff harvesting sunlight.”
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“We make our purpose.”
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“If it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth.”
— Carl Sagan
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