--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leave nothing to chance. Overlook…" description: "\"“Leave nothing to chance. Overlook nothing. Combine contradictory observations. Allow yourself enough time.”\" — Carl Sagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/carl-sagan-160_enough-time_leave-nothing-to-chance-overlook-nothing_2944223.jpg" --- # Leave nothing to chance. Overlook nothing. Combine… ![“Leave nothing to chance. Overlook nothing. Combine contradictory observations. Allow yourself enough time.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/carl-sagan-160_enough-time_leave-nothing-to-chance-overlook-nothing_2944223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/carl-sagan-160_enough-time_leave-nothing-to-chance-overlook-nothing_2944223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe7/carl-sagan-160_enough-time_leave-nothing-to-chance-overlook-nothing_2944223.jpg) > ““Leave nothing to chance. Overlook nothing. Combine contradictory observations. Allow yourself enough time.”” [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. He advises meticulous preparation, embracing contradictions, and allowing time to achieve thorough understanding. **In simple terms:** Be thorough, embrace contradictions, and be patient. Key Takeaway Plan carefully and stay open to paradoxes. Themes preparation patience contradiction observation Mood curious analytical Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - research projects - creative problem solving - strategic planning - learning new skills Key Concepts systems thinking critical analysis Questions to Reflect On - What contradictions have you overlooked? - How can you allocate more time for thoroughness? A Different Perspective Time constraints can limit depth of insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance Overlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance-overlook-4403994/) [Combine Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combine-contradictory-4403996/) [Contradictory Observations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory-observations-2918525/) [Enough time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) [Leave Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-chance-1385791/) [Observations Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observations-allow-4403995/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I am convinced that this is the only means of advancing science, of clearing the mind from a confused heap of contradictory observations, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-reynolds/i-am-convinced-that-this-is-the-only-means-of-advancing-science-of/) [Joshua Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-reynolds/) > [Of course, if one ignores contradictory observations, one can claim to have an "elegant" or "robust" theory. But it isn't science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halton-arp/of-course-if-one-ignores-contradictory-observations-one-can-claim-to/) [Halton Arp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halton-arp/) > [I know content-wise I leave nothing to chance. I have no anxiety about what I'm going to do once I'm out on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-know-content-wise-i-leave-nothing-to-chance-i-have-no-anxiety-about/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“Don’t leave it to chance, find success and replicate it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/don-t-leave-it-to-chance-find-success-and-replicate-it/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/improvisation-is-too-good-to-leave-to-chance/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“The lucky man . . . is usually the man who knows how much to leave to chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-forester-2/the-lucky-man-is-usually-the-man-who-knows-how-much-to-leave-to-chance/) [C.S. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-forester-2/) > [I hate people that say they'll be there but leave you the first chance they get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerett-parker/i-hate-people-that-say-they-ll-be-there-but-leave-you-the-first/) [Jerett Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerett-parker/) > [“If you don't care, don't pray. Personally I wouldn't leave it up to chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shidorr-myrick-gayer/if-you-don-t-care-don-t-pray-personally-i-wouldn-t-leave-it-up-to/) [Shidorr Myrick-Gayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shidorr-myrick-gayer/) > [Let’s make plans,” I ventured. And Sofia smiled and said, “No, let’s leave it to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/let-s-make-plans-i-ventured-and-sofia-smiled-and-said-no-let-s-leave/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I think it's very important to know what you want to do next versus just leave it up to chance, really position yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-know-what-you-want-to-do-next-versus/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [Your retirement is an opportunity to live out your dreams and take care of your family. Don’t leave it to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/your-retirement-is-an-opportunity-to-live-out-your-dreams-and-take/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [When you leave it to chance, then all of a sudden you don't have any more luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/when-you-leave-it-to-chance-then-all-of-a-sudden-you-don-t-have-any/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [My work is very controlled. I leave nothing to chance. Chance comes afterward... Making a film is like cooking a pot au feu. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-claudel/my-work-is-very-controlled-i-leave-nothing-to-chance-chance-comes/) [Philippe Claudel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-claudel/) > [You had more than one chance to walk away, but don't think just because you stayed I won't leave the first chance I get.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-had-more-than-one-chance-to-walk-away-but-don-t-think-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The lucky man is he who knows how much to leave to chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-forester/the-lucky-man-is-he-who-knows-how-much-to-leave-to-chance/) [C. S. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-forester/) ## 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 Enough time quotes > [If I died If I died tonight would you notice? Would you even care? If I died tonight would you find it humorous? Would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-died-if-i-died-tonight-would-you-notice-would-you-even-care-if-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you spend too much time thinking about doing something, you won’t ever have enough time to experience it or feel it. And feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/if-you-spend-too-much-time-thinking-about-doing-something-you-won-t/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Man: You are all going to live... (Smith family cheers) Man: ... for 24 more hours. Which is just enough time for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-dad/man-you-are-all-going-to-live-smith-family-cheers-man-for-24-more/) [American Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-dad/) > [“Artists are never poor, they just don't get enough time to make money !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmananda-patra/artists-are-never-poor-they-just-don-t-get-enough-time-to-make-money/) [Brahmananda Patra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmananda-patra/) > [We live a short enough time on this earth. A man should do what he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-tsukiyama/we-live-a-short-enough-time-on-this-earth-a-man-should-do-what-he/) [Gail Tsukiyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-tsukiyama/) > [“If you say something over and over again, it begins to lose it's meaning... Say anything enough times and it becomes gibberish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/if-you-say-something-over-and-over-again-it-begins-to-lose-it-s/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [If you really like Someone, there's no such things as not haveing enough Time for them…!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-really-like-someone-there-s-no-such-things-as-not-haveing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m worried that I haven’t said a lot of this very well, and that we don’t have enough time for me to tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-dibdin/i-m-worried-that-i-haven-t-said-a-lot-of-this-very-well-and-that-we/) [Emma Dibdin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-dibdin/) > [My loves in life are food, history and rugby. I'd love to be a history professor or a rugby player but I prefer rugby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-wallace/my-loves-in-life-are-food-history-and-rugby-i-d-love-to-be-a-history/) [Gregg Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-wallace/) > [This is your life do wat you love, and do it often. if you don't like something, change it. if you don't like your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiea/this-is-your-life-do-wat-you-love-and-do-it-often-if-you-don-t-like/) [Amiea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amiea/) > [I wish there were more minutes in an hour, more hours in a day, more days in a week, more weeks in a month,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-there-were-more-minutes-in-an-hour-more-hours-in-a-day-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Satire is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time, the public, the reviewers will allow you to satirize it. Which is rather ridiculous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/satire-is-tragedy-plus-time-you-give-it-enough-time-the-public-the/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) [Browse all 941 Enough time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Leave nothing to chance. Overlook nothing. Combine contradictory observations. 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