Accounts Quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson
“I [do not know] when the end of science will come. ... What I do know is that our species is dumber than we normally admit to ourselves. This limit of our mental faculties, and not necessarily of science itself, ensures to me that we have only just begun to figure out the universe.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 2015 Public Lecture on Science and Humanity, 2015
He acknowledges uncertainty about science's limits while criticizing humanity's self‑deception, suggesting we are only at the beginning of understanding the cosmos.
In simple terms: Humanity underestimates its own ignorance.
Embrace humility and curiosity in scientific pursuit.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- education
- research funding
- public policy
- science communication
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we better recognize our cognitive limits?
- What steps promote honest scientific discourse?
Overconfidence can hinder scientific progress and public trust.