It might be a familiar progression, transpiring on many worlds- a planet, newly formed, placidly revolves around it's star; life slowly forms; a kaleidoscope procession of creatures evolves; intelligence then emerges which, at least up to a point, confers enormous survival value; and then technology is invented. It dawns on them that there are such things as laws of Nature, that these laws can be revealed by experiment, and that knowledge of these laws can be made both to save and to take lives, both on unprecedented scales. Science, they recognize, grants immense powers. In a flash, they create world-altering contrivances. Some planetary civilizations see their way through, place limits on what may and what must not be done, and safely pass through the time of perils. Others, not so lucky or so prudent, perish.
- Carl Sagan
Pale Blue Dot
- Carl Sagan
Pale Blue Dot
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