Being true Quote by Carl Sagan
“The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what's true.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Cosmos, Carl Sagan, 1980
Truth often conflicts with intuition, bias, and desire, requiring effort to accept objective reality over personal preference.
In simple terms: Truth can be hard to accept because it challenges our beliefs.
Key Takeaway
Question your biases, seek evidence.
Themes
truth
bias
critical thinking
science
philosophy
Mood
curious
analytical
skeptical
Type
statement
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- debates
- scientific research
- personal decision making
- media consumption
- education
Key Concepts
epistemology
cognitive dissonance
objectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when a belief is biased?
- What steps help you verify a claim?
A Different Perspective
Emotions and evidence can clash, making acceptance difficult.
![“[ 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)
