The vast distances that separate the stars are providential. Beings and worlds are quarantined from one another. The quarantine is lifted only for those with sufficient self-knowledge and judgement to have safely traveled from star to star.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Distance protects civilizations until they are wise enough.
- In plain terms
- Space keeps civilizations safe until they are mature.
- What can you take from it?
- Maturity is needed for space travel.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Are we ready to travel between stars?
Another view
Distance doesn't prevent natural disasters or accidents.
More from Carl Sagan
Imagine we could accelerate continuously at 1 g - what we're comfortable with on good old terra firma - to the midpoint of our voyage, and decelerate continuou…
Permalink to quote #53 The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Se…
Permalink to quote #55 Since, in the long run, every planetary society will be endangered by impacts from space, every surviving civilization is obliged to become spacefaring - not b…
Permalink to quote #52
Related quotes
Since, in the long run, every planetary society will be endangered by impacts from space, every surviving civilization is obliged to become spacefaring - not b…
Carl SaganCarl Sagan quote #52 I can never look now at the Milky Way without wondering from which of those banked clouds of stars the emissaries are coming. If you will pardon so commonplace…
Arthur C. ClarkeArthur C. Clarke quote #1 You may have trouble getting permission to aero or lithobrake asteroids on Earth.
James NicollJames Nicoll quote #7