Earth Quote by Isaac Asimov
“When people thought the earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the earth was spherical, they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Relativity of Belief”, 1970s
Dogmatic certainty is flawed; openness to evidence is essential.
In simple terms: Avoid extreme certainty.
Key Takeaway
Stay open‑minded.
Themes
critical thinking
science
epistemology
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- scientific research
- public discourse
Key Concepts
philosophy
logic
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate conflicting theories?
- What evidence would change your view?
A Different Perspective
People may misinterpret as relativism.
![“The ancients had little doubt about the true shape of the earth: "It's [the world's] shape has the rounded appearance of a perfect sphere. This is shown first of all by the name of 'orb' which is bestowed upon it by the general consent of mankind. ...Our eyesight also confirms this belief, because…” quote by Pliny the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7fc/pliny-the-elder-2838_appearance_the-ancients-had-little-doubt-about-the_1189606.jpg)
