--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we can't think for ourselves, if we're…" description: "\"If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/carl-sagan-160_authority_if-we-can-t-think-for-ourselves-if-we-re_1123041.jpg" --- # If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to… ![“If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us. In every country, we should be teaching our children the scientific method…” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/carl-sagan-160_authority_if-we-can-t-think-for-ourselves-if-we-re_1123041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/carl-sagan-160_authority_if-we-can-t-think-for-ourselves-if-we-re_1123041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46f/carl-sagan-160_authority_if-we-can-t-think-for-ourselves-if-we-re_1123041.jpg) > “If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us. In every country, we should be teaching our children the scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency, humility and community spirit. In the demon-haunted world that we inhabit by virtue of being human, this may be all that stands between us and the enveloping darkness.” [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Educated citizens who question authority keep power accountable and preserve societal decency. **In simple terms:** Education empowers democracy. Key Takeaway Teach critical thinking. Themes education democracy critical thinking Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type philosophical political When to use this quote - schools - community workshops - public debates Key Concepts philosophy citizen rights Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster questioning in your community? - What barriers hinder critical education? A Different Perspective Not all societies value dissent, limiting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Being human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-human/) [Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Bills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bills/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Educated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-educated-340468/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Community spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-spirit/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Educated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educated/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinions Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions-power-633601/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Power Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-citizens-1951018/) [Question Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-authority/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reasons Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons-rights-2838864/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-method/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Teaching children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching-children/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We should be teaching our children the scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency, humility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-should-be-teaching-our-children-the-scientific-method-and-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“When the leader is honest and doesn’t abusing his power, then the citizens will be capable to do their businesses with full honesty too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/when-the-leader-is-honest-and-doesn-t-abusing-his-power-then-the/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [What holds people together long enough to discover their power as citizens is their common inhabiting of a single place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kemmis/what-holds-people-together-long-enough-to-discover-their-power-as/) [Daniel Kemmis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kemmis/) > [Freedom under law is hard work. If rulers cannot be trusted with arbitrary power, it is up to citizens to raise their voices at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lewis/freedom-under-law-is-hard-work-if-rulers-cannot-be-trusted-with/) [Anthony Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lewis/) > [No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated. Any nation that is progressive is led by people who have had the privilege…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/no-country-can-really-develop-unless-its-citizens-are-educated-any/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There isn't a single developed country which does not have its citizens well educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-kejriwal/there-isn-t-a-single-developed-country-which-does-not-have-its/) [Arvind Kejriwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-kejriwal/) > [No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/no-country-can-really-develop-unless-its-citizens-are-educated/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We're not taught to think in terms of needs. We don't make nice dead people when we're in touch with needs. Domination structures cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/we-re-not-taught-to-think-in-terms-of-needs-we-don-t-make-nice-dead/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-we-can-t-think-for-ourselves-if-we-re-unwilling-to-question/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Some people give their enemies OPINIONS too much power over their life, self-esteem and self-worth. An enemy shouldn't have power over you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-give-their-enemies-opinions-too-much-power-over-their/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Treat with utmost respect your power of forming opinions, for this power alone guards you against making assumptions that are contrary to nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/treat-with-utmost-respect-your-power-of-forming-opinions-for-this/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“What you think of me is none of my business.” Anyone can think anything they want about you, and it has absolutely NO impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/habib-sadeghi/what-you-think-of-me-is-none-of-my-business-anyone-can-think-anything/) [Habib Sadeghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/habib-sadeghi/) > [Art amplifies voices on the margins-the views and opinions that power silences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-youmans/art-amplifies-voices-on-the-margins-the-views-and-opinions-that-power/) [Will Youmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-youmans/) > [“Did it every occur to you that if you weren't living in fear of other people's opinions of you, no one would have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dave/did-it-every-occur-to-you-that-if-you-weren-t-living-in-fear-of-other/) [Laura Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dave/) > [“The thing is, I think I like kids, more or less. I was an English teacher for a few years before I quit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-weber/the-thing-is-i-think-i-like-kids-more-or-less-i-was-an-english/) [Bruce Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-weber/) ## More by Carl Sagan > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Telepathy’ literally means to feel at a distance, just as ‘telephone’ is to hear at a distance and ‘television’ is to see at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/telepathy-literally-means-to-feel-at-a-distance-just-as-telephone-is/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“On the scale of worlds—to say nothing of stars or galaxies—humans are inconsequential, a thin film of life on an obscure and solitary lump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/on-the-scale-of-worlds-to-say-nothing-of-stars-or-galaxies-humans-are/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [In our time, we have sifted the sands of Mars, we have established a presence there, we have fulfilled a century of dreams!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/in-our-time-we-have-sifted-the-sands-of-mars-we-have-established-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ “\[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :\] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-about-fulfilled-prophecies-he/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Don't judge everyone else by your own limited experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/don-t-judge-everyone-else-by-your-own-limited-experience/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/books-permit-us-to-voyage-through-time-to-tap-the-wisdom-of-our/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We live on a hunk of rock and metal that circles a humdrum star that is one of 400 billion other stars that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/we-live-on-a-hunk-of-rock-and-metal-that-circles-a-humdrum-star-that/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [A tiny blue dot set in a sunbeam. Here it is. That's where we live. That's home. We humans are one species and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/a-tiny-blue-dot-set-in-a-sunbeam-here-it-is-that-s-where-we-live-that/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Any sufficiently crisp question can be answered by a single binary digit-0 or 1, yes or no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/any-sufficiently-crisp-question-can-be-answered-by-a-single-binary/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Humans — who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals — have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/humans-who-enslave-castrate-experiment-on-and-fillet-other-animals/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Every star may be a sun to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-star-may-be-a-sun-to-someone/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) [Explore all 1,043 Carl Sagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/) [Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“I'm of the age and immaturity level that I cannot give you my respect solely because you are older or ranked higher on an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-goros/i-m-of-the-age-and-immaturity-level-that-i-cannot-give-you-my-respect/) [Erica Goros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-goros/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/miracles-are-like-candles-lit-up-until-the-sun-rises-and-then-blown/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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Hamas has a vision and a program, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail-haniyeh/the-victory-of-hamas-is-not-only-based-on-the-corruption-of-the/) [Ismail Haniyeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail-haniyeh/) [Browse all 4,003 Authority quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we can't think for ourselves, if we're unwilling to question authority, then we're just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us. In every country, we should be teaching our children the scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency, humility and community spirit. 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