Carl Sagan - Contact (1985)

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In the long run, the aggressive civilizations destroy themselves, almost always. It's their nature. They can't help it.

Carl Sagan

I wish to propose a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true. I must, of course, admit that if such an opinion became common it would completely transform our social life and our political system; since both are at present faultless, this must weigh against it.

Carl Sagan

If the press descended, the science would surely suffer.

Carl Sagan

We could not guess how different from us they (extraterrestrials) might be. It was hard enough to guess the intentions of our elected representatives in Washington.

Carl Sagan