# Quote — Carl Sagan, Broca's Brain

> Both borderline science and many religions are motivated in part by a serious concern about the nature of the universe and our role in it, and for this reason merit our consideration and regard. In addition, I think it possible that many religions involve at their cores an attempt to come to grips with profound mysteries of our individual life histories, as described in the last chapter. But both in borderline science and in organized religion there is much that is specious or dangerous. While the practitioners of such doctrines often wish there were no criticisms to which they are expected to reply, skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep insights can be winnowed from deep nonsense.

- Author: [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md)
- Book: [Broca's Brain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan#Broca's_Brain_(1979)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain/both-borderline-science

## More from this book

> Much of human history can, I think, be described as a gradual and sometimes painful liberation from provincialism, the emerging awareness that there is more to the world than was generally believed by our ancestors.

p. 240 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain/much-of-human.md)

> I believe that the extraordinary should certainly be pursued. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

p. 73 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain/i-believe-that.md)

> All inquiries carry with them some element of risk. There is no guarantee that the universe will conform to our predispositions. But I do not see how we can deal with the universe—both the outside and the inside universe—without studying it. The best way to avoid abuses is for the populace in general to be scientifically literate, to understand the implications of such investigations. In exchange for freedom of inquiry, scientists are obliged to explain their work. If science is considered a closed priesthood, too difficult and arcane for the average person to understand, the dangers of abuse are greater. But if science is a topic of general interest and concern—if both its delights and its social consequences are discussed regularly and competently in the schools, the press, and at the dinner table—we have greatly improved our prospects for learning how the world really is and for improving both it and us.

p. 13 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/brocas-brain/all-inquiries-carry.md)