Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist and science communicator. Initially an assistant professor at Harvard, Sagan later moved to Cornell, where he was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He played an active role in the Mariner, Viking and Voyager programs. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and several popular science books, starting with The Cosmic Connection. He won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for The Dragons of Eden.

Quotes

Personally, I would be delighted if there were a life after death, especially if it permitted me to continue to learn about this world and others, if it gave me a chance to discover how history turns out.
Think of how many religions attempt to validate themselves with prophecy. Think of how many people rely on these prophecies, however vague, however unfulfilled, to support or prop up their beliefs. Yet has there ever been a religion with the prophetic accuracy and reliability of science?
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
When you make the finding yourself - even if you're the last person on Earth to see the light - you'll never forget it.
Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.
For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.

Love
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.

Miscellaneous
Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere.

Inspiration
If it can be destroyed by the truth, it deserves to be destroyed by the truth.
Just the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.