The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you. Read Summary
We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts, is that the universe is in us. Read Summary
Space exploration is a force of nature unto itself that no other force in society can rival. Read Summary
Rational thoughts never drive people's creativity the way emotions do. Read Summary
I know of no time in human history where ignorance was better than knowledge. Read Summary
The theory of evolution, like the theory of gravity, is a scientific fact. Read Summary
We live on this speck called Earth - think about what you might do, today or tomorrow - and make the most of it. Read Summary
There is no science in this world like physics. Nothing comes close to the precision with which physics enables you to understand the world around you. It's the laws of physics that allow us to say exactly what time the sun is going to rise. What time the eclipse is going to begin. What time the eclipse is going to end. Read Summary
I think that intelligence is such a narrow branch of the tree of life - this branch of primates we call humans. No other animal, by our definition, can be considered intelligent. So intelligence can't be all that important for survival, because there are so many animals that don't have what we call intelligence, and they're surviving just fine. Read Summary
Science literacy is the artery through which the solutions of tomorrow's problems flow. Read Summary
Carl Sagan spoke fluently between biology and geology and astrophysics and physics. If you move fluently across those boundaries, you realize that science is everywhere; science is not something you can step around or sweep under the rug. Read Summary
The problem is not scientifically illiterate kids; it is scientifically illiterate adults. Kids are born curious about the natural world. They are always turning over rocks, jumping with two feet into mud puddles and playing with the tablecloth and fine china. Read Summary
I don't want people to say, 'Something is true because Tyson says it is true.' That's not critical thinking. Read Summary
Let me tell you something about full moons: kids don't care about full moons. They'll play in a full moon, no worries at all. They only get scared of magic or werewolves from stupid adults and their stupid adult stories. Read Summary
The very nature of science is discoveries, and the best of those discoveries are the ones you don't expect. Read Summary
I'm constantly claimed by atheists. I find this intriguing. In fact, on my Wiki page - I didn't create the Wiki page, others did, and I'm flattered that people cared enough about my life to assemble it - and it said, 'Neil deGrasse is an atheist.' Read Summary
Do you realize that if you fall into a black hole, you will see the entire future of the Universe unfold in front of you in a matter of moments and you will emerge into another space-time created by the singularity of the black hole you just fell into? Read Summary
If you think of feelings you have when you are awed by something - for example, knowing that elements in your body trace to exploded stars - I call that a spiritual reaction, speaking of awe and majesty, where words fail you. Read Summary
No one is dumb who is curious. The people who don't ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives. Read Summary
Even with all our technology and the inventions that make modern life so much easier than it once was, it takes just one big natural disaster to wipe all that away and remind us that, here on Earth, we're still at the mercy of nature. Read Summary