Authority Quote by Carl Sagan
“Science ... looks skeptically at all claims to knowledge, old and new. It teaches not blind obedience to those in authority but to vigorous debate, and in many respects that's the secret of its success.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Demon‑Haunted World, 1995
Science demands questioning, debate, and evidence, not blind trust in authority.
In simple terms: Science values questioning over blind trust.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate critical thinking.
Themes
science
skepticism
debate
Mood
curious
inquisitive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- media consumption
Key Concepts
epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you foster constructive dialogue?
- What evidence convinces you most?
A Different Perspective
Debate can become polarized.
![“[ 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)
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