Astronomy Quote by Carl Sagan
““It is conventional wisdom now that anything built by the government will be a disaster. But the two "Voyager" spacecraft were built by the government (in partnership with that other bugaboo, academia). They came in at cost, on time, and vastly exceeded their design specifications--as well as the fondest dreams of their makers. Seeking not to control, threaten, wound, or destroy, these elegant machines represented the exploratory part of our nature set free to roam the Solar System and beyond. This kind of technology, the treasures it uncovers freely available to all humans everywhere, has been, over the last few decades, one of the few activities of the United States admired as much by those who abhor many of its policies as by those who agree with it on every issue. "Voyager" cost each American less than a penny a year from launch to Neptune encounter. Missions to the planets are one of those things--and I mean this not just for the United States, but for the human species--that we do best.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Space Exploration, 1990s
Government projects can succeed spectacularly when they pursue pure exploration rather than control, delivering universal benefits at minimal cost.
In simple terms: Exploration projects can succeed and benefit all.
Support open, exploratory science.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- space missions
- educational outreach
- budget advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we protect exploratory science from politicization?
- What incentives encourage low‑cost, high‑impact missions?
Public funding may face political opposition and budget cuts.