"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism."

Imagination

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Insight & Reflection

The theme of imagination is universal, yet Carl Sagan manages to capture its essence in a uniquely profound way. Taking a moment to internalize this can shift our mindset, reminding us that our perspective on imagination often shapes our reality.

About Carl Sagan

Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist and science communicator. Initially an assistant professor at Harvard, Sagan later moved to Cornell, where he was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He played an active role in the Mariner, Viking and Voyager programs. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and several popular science books, starting with The Cosmic Connection. He won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for The Dragons of Eden.

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More by Carl Sagan

"I can find in my undergraduate classes, bright students who do not know that the stars rise and set at night, or even that the Sun is a star."

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

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More about Imagination

"It is a profound truth that an idea is a delicate seed; water it with curiosity and protect it from cynicism — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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"A retired teacher paid $62,000 towards her pension and nothing, yes nothing, for full family medical, dental and vision coverage over her entire career. What will we pay her? $1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime."

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