Question 2 of 11

"In every country, we should be teaching our children the scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency, humility and community spirit. In the demon-haunted world that we inhabit by virtue of being human, this may be all that stands between us and the enveloping darkness."

... Yes, that is indeed a Carl Sagan quote from his 1996 book "The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark." Sagan was a huge proponent of widespread scientific literacy and thought that many of the world's evils could be lessened in this way.

Question 3 of 11

"And here, I am not so pleased with the impact of science. Rather than serving as a cleansing force, science has in some instances been seduced by the more ancient lures of politics and publicity. Some of the demons that haunt our world in recent years are invented by scientists. The world has not benefited from permitting these demons to escape free."

... In this quote from his 2003 "Aliens Cause Global Warming" lecture to the California Institute of Technology, Michael Crichton alluded to the previous quote by Sagan. Crichton openly criticized what he saw as the mingling of scientific and political aims.

Question 4 of 11

“Scientific power is like inherited wealth; attained without discipline. You read about what others have done, and you take the next step. You can do it very young. You can make progress very fast.”

... Again, Michael Crichton chimes in on science's role in human culture, pointing out that modern scientists excel by standing on the shoulders of all those who came before them.

Question 5 of 11

"Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge."

... In this quote, Carl Sagan expounds on the notion of science as "standing on the shoulders of giants" by championing once more the illuminating powers of a scientifically charged view of the world.

Question 6 of 11

"Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense."

... Yes, it's another Sagan quote, this one dealing with an issue that Crichton would champion in his opposition to global warming: the importance of discussion and scrutiny in the scientific community.

Question 7 of 11

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not Eureka! (I found it!) but rather, 'hmm.... that's funny....'"

... This quote is actually from famed science-fiction author Isaac Asimov. The quote succinctly captures the importance of the inquisitive, scientific outlook.

Question 8 of 11

"We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces."

... While the quote might remind you of author Arthur C. Clarke's quip "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic," this one is actually Sagan. The two quotes, however, touch on some of the same problems with a scientifically illiterate public.

Question 9 of 11

“In the information society, nobody thinks. We expect to banish paper, but we actually banish thought.”

... Although this quote might summon memories of Michael Scott's "Limitless Paper in a Paperless World" slogan from TV's "The Office," this is another Crichton quote discussing just where advances in technology are leading us. Will computers and the Internet do all of our thinking for us?

Question 10 of 11

"I am certain there is too much certainty in the world."

... This Michael Crichton quote points to the dangers of undisputed facts -- scientific, religious, social or political.

Question 11 of 11

"It is the tension between creativity and skepticism that has produced the stunning and unexpected findings of science."

... In this quote, Sagan sums up something that Crichton surely would have agreed with as well: the importance of doubt to scientific advancement.

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