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About this quote

What does it mean?
Sagan points out that progress in medicine and agriculture has saved far more lives than wars have taken.
In plain terms
Human advances in health and food have helped more people than conflict has harmed.
What can you take from it?
Focus on constructive scientific progress.

Where it applies

  • policy advocacy
  • public debate

Putting it to work

  • support scientific research
  • promote health initiatives

Questions to consider

  • What truly advances civilization?
  • Is progress linear?

Another view

Wars often drive technological advancements that benefit later generations.

More from Carl Sagan

  1. 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 sa…

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  2. I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges nearer, pseudo-science and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more …

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  3. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal.

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