--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science is far from a perfect instrument…" description: "\"“Science is far from a perfect instrument of knowledge. It's just the best we have. In this respect, as in many others, it's like democracy. Science by..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/carl-sagan-160_respect_science-is-far-from-a-perfect-instrument_1947328.jpg" --- # Science is far from a perfect instrument of knowledge… ![“Science is far from a perfect instrument of knowledge. It's just the best we have. In this respect, as in many others, it's like democracy. Science by itself cannot advocate courses of human action, but it can certainly illuminate the possible consequences of alternative courses of action.” quote by carl sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/carl-sagan-160_respect_science-is-far-from-a-perfect-instrument_1947328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/carl-sagan-160_respect_science-is-far-from-a-perfect-instrument_1947328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/carl-sagan-160_respect_science-is-far-from-a-perfect-instrument_1947328.jpg) > ““Science is far from a perfect instrument of knowledge. It's just the best we have. In this respect, as in many others, it's like democracy. Science by itself cannot advocate courses of human action, but it can certainly illuminate the possible consequences of alternative courses of action.”” [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. Science is an imperfect tool, the best we possess, akin to democracy: it cannot dictate actions but can reveal outcomes. **In simple terms:** Science is our best, imperfect guide. Key Takeaway Use science to inform choices. Themes knowledge science democracy decisionmaking Mood thoughtful analytical Type reflective informative When to use this quote - policy analysis - ethical debates - technology assessment - public health planning Key Concepts epistemology consequentialism Questions to Reflect On - What consequences can science illuminate for your decision? - How do you balance scientific insight with moral judgment? A Different Perspective Science cannot tell us what to value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-science-1091863/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Like Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-democracy-629033/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Advocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-advocate-3139130/) ## Related quotes > [What we want is scientists who don't become part of the policy discussion: All they do is produce science. If someone becomes an advocate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-shultz/what-we-want-is-scientists-who-don-t-become-part-of-the-policy/) [George P. Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-shultz/) > [“...that kind of skeptical questioning, don't accept what authority tells you -attitude of science- is also nearly identical to the attitude of mind necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/that-kind-of-skeptical-questioning-don-t-accept-what-authority-tells/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Here in the U.S., we've made democracy into a science. A cold, impersonal science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/here-in-the-u-s-we-ve-made-democracy-into-a-science-a-cold-impersonal/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [We're an elective democracy where science and technology will define where the economically strong countries in the world will be. 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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. 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