Aliens Quote by Carl Sagan
“After I give lectures-on almost any subject-I am often asked, "Do you believe in UFOs?" I'm always struck by how the question is phrased, the suggestion that this is a matter of belief and not evidence. I'm almost never asked, "How good is the evidence that UFOs are alien spaceships?"”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public lecture on UFOs, date unknown
The question frames UFOs as belief rather than evidence, shifting focus from data to faith.
In simple terms: People ask about belief in UFOs, not evidence.
Key Takeaway
Demand evidence before forming belief.
Themes
science
skepticism
belief
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- media interviews
- policy making
Key Concepts
epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reframe the question to focus on evidence?
- What evidence would change your view?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue belief is a valid starting point.
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
