By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded…
“By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out. -this quote is actually found in Carl Sagan's book The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, where he attributes it to engineer James Oberg, who says he stole it from someone else.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan, 1995
Encourages openness while warning against excessive gullibility that can impair critical thinking.
In simple terms: Be open but keep critical judgment.
Key Takeaway
Balance curiosity with skepticism.
Themes
critical thinking
open-mindedness
skepticism
intellectual rigor
Mood
cautious
analytical
inquisitive
Type
advice
philosophical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- academic research
- media consumption
- political discourse
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
information overload
epistemic humility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern valuable ideas from noise?
- When does openness become a liability?
A Different Perspective
Excessive openness may lead to credulity and poor judgments.