Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

We sow hatred of others fueled by what we think is true, or what we want to be true, without regard to what is true. Cultural and political factions battle for the souls of communities and of nations. We’ve lost all sight of what distinguishes facts from opinions. We’re quick with acts of aggression and slow with acts of kindness.

Do whatever it takes to avoid fooling yourself into believing that something is true when it is false, or that something is false when it is true.

“The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinion.”

Healthy disagreement is a natural state on the bleeding edge of discovery.

Differences in opinion enrich the diversity of a nation, and ought to be cherished and respected in any free society, provided everyone remains free to disagree with one another and, most importantly, everyone remains open to rational arguments that could change your mind.