If you’re searching for the best Carl Sagan quotes, you’re likely seeking both inspiration and insight from one of science’s most beloved voices. Whether you’re drawn to his passion for the cosmos or his gift for blending wonder with reason, Carl Sagan’s words have sparked curiosity across generations. In this collection of top 50 best Carl Sagan quotes, you’ll discover reflections on science, skepticism, love, and our place in the universe. Let these words encourage your own sense of awe and broaden your perspective as you explore the mysteries that still await us.
Wonder & Curiosity
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.”
— Carl Sagan
“The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.”
— Carl Sagan
“We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”
— Carl Sagan
“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.”
— Carl Sagan
“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”
— Carl Sagan
“We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers.”
— Carl Sagan
“The beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together.”
— Carl Sagan
“Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors.”
— 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, you will not find another.”
— Carl Sagan
“We find ourselves on a small blue planet, circling a yellow star.”
— Carl Sagan
Science & Skepticism
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”
— Carl Sagan
“It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”
— Carl Sagan
“Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.”
— Carl Sagan
“Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense.”
— Carl Sagan
“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”
— Carl Sagan
“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”
— Carl Sagan
‘The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.’
— Carl Sagan
“Who is more humble? The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved?”
— Carl Sagan
“If we’re not willing to ask skeptical questions, to be skeptical of those in authority, then we’re up for grabs for the next charlatan, political or religious, who comes ambling along.”
— Carl Sagan
“The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.”
— Carl Sagan
Exploration & The Cosmos
“Exploration is in our nature. We began as wanderers, and we are wanderers still.”
— Carl Sagan
“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.”
— Carl Sagan
“Human beings are, as far as we know, the best way that the universe has found of knowing itself.”
— Carl Sagan
“If the universe was created for us, it’s hard to understand why it’s so big and empty.”
— Carl Sagan
“There are many hypotheses in science which are wrong. That’s perfectly all right; they’re the aperture to finding out what’s right.”
— Carl Sagan
“But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses.”
— Carl Sagan
“The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean.”
— Carl Sagan
“We are star stuff which has taken its destiny into its own hands.”
— Carl Sagan
“Across the sea of space, the stars are other suns.”
— Carl Sagan
“A blade of grass is a commonplace on Earth; it would be a miracle on Mars.”
— Carl Sagan
Perspective & Humility
“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.”
— Carl Sagan
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star stuff.”
— Carl Sagan
“Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.”
— Carl Sagan
“It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience.”
— Carl Sagan
“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.”
— Carl Sagan
“The significance of our lives and our fragile planet is then determined only by our own wisdom and courage.”
— Carl Sagan
“You’re made of star stuff. You are the universe, experiencing itself.”
— Carl Sagan
‘It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.’
— Carl Sagan
“We are privileged to live among those who explore the frontiers of knowledge.”
— Carl Sagan
“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.”
— Carl Sagan
Wisdom & Legacy
“In science it often happens that scientists say, \”You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,\” and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again.”
— Carl Sagan
“Some 25 centuries ago, the Greek mathematician and philosopher Plato wrote: \”Astronomy compels the soul to look upward, and leads us from this world to another.\””
— Carl Sagan
“We live on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.”
— Carl Sagan
“In all our searching, the only thing we’ve found that makes the emptiness bearable is each other.”
— Carl Sagan
“The cosmos is full beyond measure of elegant truths, of exquisite interrelationships, of the awesome machinery of nature.”
— Carl Sagan
“When you’re in love, you want to tell the world. This book is a personal statement, reflecting my own excitement and wonder at the discoveries science has made.”
— Carl Sagan
“There are no forbidden questions in science, no matters too sensitive or delicate to be probed, no sacred truths.”
— Carl Sagan
“Every planet is a holy land.”
— Carl Sagan
We hope these best Carl Sagan quotes have ignited your curiosity and sense of wonder about the cosmos. Sagan’s words remind us that science is more than facts and figures—it’s a path to discovery, humility, and awe. Whether you’re gazing at the stars or contemplating life’s mysteries, let his unique blend of insight and optimism inspire your own search for knowledge. Share your favorite Sagan quote with friends and keep exploring the universe, one thoughtful question at a time.
About Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan (1934–1996) was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, planetary scientist, author, and science communicator. Best known for his groundbreaking book “Cosmos” and its legendary television series adaptation, Sagan made the wonders of the universe accessible to millions. His passion for science, critical thinking, and skepticism was matched only by his poetic appreciation of nature and humanity’s place in the cosmos. Sagan advocated for scientific literacy, space exploration, and the ethical responsibilities of technological advancement. Today, his influence continues to nurture curiosity and inspire seekers of truth worldwide.
