“The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.” ― Carl Sagan
I could not have said it better myself.
Iḿ happy, too.
ReplyDeletePerseid Meteor shower to peak in the morning! Should be good between 3am and 4am AST. Look East towards Jupiter rising. Spaceweather has skymaps. We're going to hit the hay early and see if the sky is clear enough for viewing.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.spaceweather.com/
Thanks, Gryph, You have no idea how much I needed that!
ReplyDeleteI just answered a phone call informing me of the death of a dear friend. One of those "The operation was a success but she didn't make it" scenarios.
"Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.” ― Carl Sagan
There's comfort in the Truth.
Carl Sagan was amazing!
ReplyDeleteFor all his "wise words of wisdom," as my 11-year-old grandson would phrase it, I can't help thinking that Carl Sagan was low in existential intelligence, the defined intellectual ability to deeply meditate on--and perhaps gain some insight into--the most profound meaning of life.
ReplyDeleteAfter Sagan's death, his widow issued a statement to the effect that he remained a nonbeliever to the end. Christopher Hitchens said something similar about himself as he faced death. What was the point of these statements? Why did they feel the need to convince anyone of their non-belief?
The exquisite world Sagan describes, with "so much love and moral depth" is not exclusive of a central underlying force. Astrophysicist Fred Hoyle said that common sense indicates that a superintelligence has monkeyed with the laws of physics. I think Hoyle possessed not only keen skills in the area of science, but existential intelligence as well.
I thank God sincerely for atheist scientists as well as those of faith. Historically, some of the greatest gains have been contributed by believers. What I pray for the rest is a big dose of existential intelligence.
I miss Carl Sagan. And Christopher Hitchens.
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