Astronomy Quote by Carl Sagan
“What counts is not what sounds plausible, not what we would like to believe, not what one or two witnesses claim, but only what is supported by hard evidence rigorously and skeptically examined. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Demon‑Haunted World, 1995
Claims must be backed by rigorous, skeptical evidence; extraordinary claims demand equally extraordinary proof.
In simple terms: Evidence must be strong for big claims.
Key Takeaway
Demand solid proof.
Themes
science
skepticism
evidence
critical thinking
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research evaluation
- media literacy
- policy making
Key Concepts
extraordinary evidence
methodological rigor
logical analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify extraordinary claims?
- What standards should guide evidence evaluation?
A Different Perspective
People may cling to beliefs despite lacking evidence.
![“[ 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)
