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Carl Sagan

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Carl Edward Sagan (pron.: /ˈseɪɡən/; November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He spent most of his career as a professor of astronomy at Cornell University where he directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books. He advocated scientifically skeptical inquiry and the scientific method, pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Sagan is known for his popular science books and for the award-winning 1980 television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, which he narrated and co-wrote. The book Cosmos was published to accompany the series. Sagan wrote the novel Contact, the basis for a 1997 film of the same name.

top atheist quotes (total: 13)

atheist quote

context

quality?

You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Atheism is more than just the knowledge that gods do not exist, and that religion is either a mistake or a fraud. Atheism is an attitude, a frame of mind that looks at the world objectively, fearlessly, always trying to understand all things as a part of nature

Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of the astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy.

It is better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.

Your god is too small for my universe.

If we say that God has always been, why not save a step and conclude that the universe has always been?

I dont want to believe.I want to know..

I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking.

If by "god" one means the set of physical laws that govern the universe, then clearly there is such a god. This god is emotionally unsatisfying....it does not make much sense to pray to the law of gravity.

How is it that hardly any major religion has looked at science and concluded, 'This is better than we thought! The Universe is much bigger than our prophets said, grander, more subtle, more elegant'? Instead they say, 'No, no, no! My god is a little god, and I want him to stay that way.' A religion, old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths

It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese.

I cannot conceive of a god who rewards and punishes his creatures or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or

last comments (total: 4)

If you can't convince believers of anything, how do some believers abandon religion and become atheists? :)

09/12/15
2:43pm

comment on atheist quote:
You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.

Carl Sagan didn't say this. This is misattributed to him.

Jennifer Prescott

Jennifer Prescott

27/10/14
9:39pm

comment on atheist quote:
You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.

One of my favorite quotes. This speaks volumes. If only theists would realize that they only need faith in themselves to live a happy life.

Jonathan Morris

Jonathan Morris

15/10/14
3:10am

comment on atheist quote:
You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.

Carl always got right to the point. I miss him.

08/05/13
4:28am

comment on atheist quote:
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence