--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The passion to explore is at the heart of…" description: "\"The passion to explore is at the heart of being human.\" — Carl Sagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/carl-sagan-160_being-human_the-passion-to-explore-is-at-the-heart-o_1206073.jpg" --- # The passion to explore is at the heart of being human. ![“The passion to explore is at the heart of being human.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/carl-sagan-160_being-human_the-passion-to-explore-is-at-the-heart-o_1206073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/carl-sagan-160_being-human_the-passion-to-explore-is-at-the-heart-o_1206073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13f/carl-sagan-160_being-human_the-passion-to-explore-is-at-the-heart-o_1206073.jpg) > “The passion to explore is at the heart of being human.” [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. Exploration drives humanity’s identity and progress. **In simple terms:** Exploring defines us. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity. Themes exploration human nature growth Mood wonderful inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - scientific research - travel - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts Existential purpose curiosity Questions to Reflect On - What drives your desire to explore? - How can you channel curiosity constructively? A Different Perspective Not all exploration yields positive outcomes; risk of overextension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-human/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) ## Related quotes > [“Explore my heart. Do not exploit it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduvie-donald/explore-my-heart-do-not-exploit-it/) [Eduvie Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduvie-donald/) > [The passion to explore and not be afraid to fail - that's something I will always attribute to the Groundlings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rash/the-passion-to-explore-and-not-be-afraid-to-fail-that-s-something-i/) [Jim Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rash/) > [I really think it's important to find a passion and explore it. You don't have to have everything figured out at 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-vellani/i-really-think-it-s-important-to-find-a-passion-and-explore-it-you/) [Iman Vellani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-vellani/) > [Why do children love to hide and seek? Ask any person who has a passion to explore and discover and create. The choice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/why-do-children-love-to-hide-and-seek-ask-any-person-who-has-a/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [“The only really interesting things about someone that makes you want to explore them further is their heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/the-only-really-interesting-things-about-someone-that-makes-you-want/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“You have a lot to explore beyond this cottage if you want to know everything about the world. Explore until your heart is full,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/random-house-disney/you-have-a-lot-to-explore-beyond-this-cottage-if-you-want-to-know/) [Random House Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/random-house-disney/) > [I do a programme with Bob Mortimer, where we explore our heart problems. We both tend to it really carefully. I have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/i-do-a-programme-with-bob-mortimer-where-we-explore-our-heart/) [Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/) > [One who understands the relationships between the human heart and the human mind will always out-hack those who chase after an ever-changing technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/one-who-understands-the-relationships-between-the-human-heart-and-the/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [Equipment has heart, human heart, inside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/equipment-has-heart-human-heart-inside-it/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) > [Where beats a heart within a human breast, There be Thou present, and Thy power adored! And oh! since all are doom'd one common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/where-beats-a-heart-within-a-human-breast-there-be-thou-present-and-2/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) > [Philanthropy lies at the heart of human greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-ryan/philanthropy-lies-at-the-heart-of-human-greatness/) Patrick J. Ryan > [The true heart of all human beings is the lover of what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-true-heart-of-all-human-beings-is-the-lover-of-what-is/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [To get closer to Truth and Right, we need a beautiful and soft heart. Every human learns one day or another to become softer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shams-tabrizi/to-get-closer-to-truth-and-right-we-need-a-beautiful-and-soft-heart/) [Shams Tabrizi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shams-tabrizi/) > [Where beats a heart within a human breast, There be Thou present, and Thy power adored! And oh! since all one common race are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/where-beats-a-heart-within-a-human-breast-there-be-thou-present-and/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) > [You can be cold like a rock, you can be as strong as a lion but you have the heart of a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-be-cold-like-a-rock-you-can-be-as-strong-as-a-lion-but-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Being human quotes > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“There are no greater or truer lords, gods, fathers, sons or holy spirits, than the humans. Humans are the highest beings on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-no-greater-or-truer-lords-gods-fathers-sons-or-holy-spirits/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [We’re built to deal with death, disease, failure, struggle, heartbreak, problems. It’s what separates us from the animals and why we envy and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/we-re-built-to-deal-with-death-disease-failure-struggle-heartbreak/) [Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/) > [“There are countless reasons to be jealous. But that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/there-are-countless-reasons-to-be-jealous-but-that-doesn-t-mean-you/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [“I honour the clarity of the present moment, and the stillness at the centre of being (mine & others), even in the midst of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/i-honour-the-clarity-of-the-present-moment-and-the-stillness-at-the/) [Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/) > [It's the strangest thing about being human: to know so much, to communicate so much, and yet always to fall so drastically short of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-s-the-strangest-thing-about-being-human-to-know-so-much-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [Virtue is something you have to get good at, like playing the trombone or tolerating bores at parties. Being a virtuous human being takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/virtue-is-something-you-have-to-get-good-at-like-playing-the-trombone/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Heartbreak is our indication of sincerity: in a love relationship, in a work, in trying to learn a musical instrument, in the attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/heartbreak-is-our-indication-of-sincerity-in-a-love-relationship-in-a/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [The Gnostics believed that exile was the essential condition of man. Do you agree? I do. The artist and the addict both wrestle with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-gnostics-believed-that-exile-was-the-essential-condition-of-man/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“Either way, you were connected. By your desires. By your defiance. By the simple, complicated fact of who you were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/either-way-you-were-connected-by-your-desires-by-your-defiance-by-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“...something can be a good thing and yet not a necessary thing. It is good for people to be expert at brain surgery. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lee-austin/something-can-be-a-good-thing-and-yet-not-a-necessary-thing-it-is/) Victor Lee Austin > [I have no interest in problematizing things. 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