Certain Quote by Carl Sagan
“Except in pure mathematics, nothing is known for certain (although much is certainly false).”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Cosmos, 1980
In non‑mathematical fields, certainty is rare; many beliefs are likely wrong.
In simple terms: Only math is certain; elsewhere we guess.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and seek evidence.
Themes
epistemology
uncertainty
science
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- daily decision making
- policy analysis
- media consumption
Key Concepts
philosophy of knowledge
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle uncertainty in your field?
- What methods improve confidence?
A Different Perspective
certainty is always limited; even math can be revised.
![“[ 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)
