Open mind Quote by Carl Sagan
““Keeping an open mind is a virtue—but, as the space engineer James Oberg once said, not so open that your brains fall out.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Demon‑Haunted World, Carl Sagan, 1995
Open‑mindedness is valuable, but too much can lead to loss of critical thinking.
In simple terms: Balance openness with critical thinking.
Key Takeaway
Stay curious but grounded.
Themes
critical thinking
openness
skepticism
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- debates
- new ideas
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
Scientific method
philosophical inquiry
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you limit openness?
- How do you test new ideas?
A Different Perspective
Over‑openness may cause gullibility.
![“[ 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)
