--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It pays to keep an open mind, but not so…" description: "\"“It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.”\" — Carl Sagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/carl-sagan-160_open-mind_it-pays-to-keep-an-open-mind-but-not-so_1491575.jpg" --- # It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains… ![“It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/carl-sagan-160_open-mind_it-pays-to-keep-an-open-mind-but-not-so_1491575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/carl-sagan-160_open-mind_it-pays-to-keep-an-open-mind-but-not-so_1491575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/199/carl-sagan-160_open-mind_it-pays-to-keep-an-open-mind-but-not-so_1491575.jpg) > ““It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.”” [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. Open‑mindedness is valuable, but excessive openness can lead to loss of critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Be open but stay grounded. Key Takeaway Balance curiosity with discernment. Themes knowledge critical thinking open mind wisdom balance Mood cautious inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - education - scientific method - decision making Key Concepts skepticism intellectual humility cognitive limits Questions to Reflect On - When does openness become naiveté? - How can we protect critical thought? A Different Perspective Over‑openness can cause gullibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brains Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-fall-584514/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-open/) [Open Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-brains-584513/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Pays Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pays-open-5451913/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [A mind should not be so open that the brains fall out; however, it should not be so closed that whatever gray matter which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-bell/a-mind-should-not-be-so-open-that-the-brains-fall-out-however-it/) [Art Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-bell/) > [“Keep an open mind, but no so open that your brains fall out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-oberg/keep-an-open-mind-but-no-so-open-that-your-brains-fall-out/) [James Oberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-oberg/) > [“Keeping an open mind is a virtue—but, as the space engineer James Oberg once said, not so open that your brains fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/keeping-an-open-mind-is-a-virtue-but-as-the-space-engineer-james/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [I do not suggest that you should not have an open mind ... but don't keep your mind so open that your brains fall out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/i-do-not-suggest-that-you-should-not-have-an-open-mind-but-don-t-keep/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [I believe in an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hays-sulzberger/i-believe-in-an-open-mind-but-not-so-open-that-your-brains-fall-out/) [Arthur Hays Sulzberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hays-sulzberger/) > [You don't want to be so open minded that your brains fall out!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/you-don-t-want-to-be-so-open-minded-that-your-brains-fall-out/) [Gilbert K. 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