Being equal Quote by Carl Sagan
“Other things being equal, it is better to be smart than to be stupid.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Demon-Haunted World, 1995
Intelligence is more valuable than ignorance because it leads to better decisions.
In simple terms: Being smart beats being stupid.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate critical thinking.
Themes
knowledge
intelligence
decision making
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- studying
- debating
- problem solving
Key Concepts
rationality
education
science literacy
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can you take to apply intelligence wisely?
- How do you balance knowledge with humility?
A Different Perspective
Intelligence alone doesn’t guarantee wisdom.
![“[ 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)
![“Do not Bodies act upon Light at a distance, and by their action bend its Rays; and is not this action (caeteris paribus) [all else being equal] strongest at the least distance?” quote by Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/isaac-newton-1226_action_do-not-bodies-act-upon-light-at-a-distan_90238.jpg)
![“[T]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for construing discourse as ambiguous, elliptical, or involving special idioms, we should not so construe it.” quote by Tyler Burge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2be/tyler-burge-109585_ambiguous_t-here-is-a-methodological-bias-in-favor_377917.jpg)