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About this quote

What does it mean?
Sagan states that skeptical scrutiny is essential to separate valuable ideas from nonsense in both science and religion.
In plain terms
Critically questioning ideas helps find truth in any field.
What can you take from it?
Apply critical thinking to all claims.

Where it applies

  • academic study
  • daily decision making

Putting it to work

  • question claims
  • demand evidence

Questions to consider

  • How do you test ideas?
  • What is beyond questioning?

Another view

Some truths are felt rather than proven through scrutiny.

More from Carl Sagan

  1. Science is a way to not fool ourselves.

    Permalink to quote #83
  2. Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

    Permalink to quote #85
  3. Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.

    Permalink to quote #82

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