Events Quote by Carl Sagan
“It is all a matter of time scale. An event that would be unthinkable in a hundred years may be inevitable in a hundred million.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cosmos by Carl Sagan, 1980
The significance of an event changes with the length of the time frame considered; what seems impossible now may become inevitable over vast periods.
In simple terms: Time scale changes perception of possibility.
Key Takeaway
Consider long‑term impacts.
Themes
time
scale
perspective
future
inevitability
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- environmental forecasting
- technological development
- civilizational risk assessment
Key Concepts
cosmology
entropy
anthropic principle
Questions to Reflect On
- How does extending the time horizon alter your decisions?
- What risks are hidden by short‑term thinking?
A Different Perspective
Short‑term urgency may be ignored when focusing on long horizons.
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![“[ 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)
