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76 Life-Changing Neil DeGrasse Tyson Quotes

Famous As: American Astrophysicist, Planetary Scientist and Science Communicator
Born On: 1958
Born In: Manhattan, New York, United States
Age: 66 Years
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, writer, science communicator, TV personality and a cosmologist. Tyson studied physics at Harvard University and went on to acquire a post doctorate degree from University of Texas, before getting his astrophysics doctorate from Columbia University in 1991. He also did research at Princeton University before joining the Hayden Planetarium and eventually becoming its director. However, it was in his capacity as an author and essayist on several scientific subjects that he became world famous. Some of his well-known books include ‘Merlin’s Tour of the Universe’, ‘Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries’, ‘My Favourite Universe’, ‘Just Visiting this Planet’, ‘Universe Down to Earth’ and ‘Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontiers’ among others. He has also hosted several shows among which ‘Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey’ is a notable one. Tyson is also an extremely persuasive speaker and is known to put his point across regarding several scientific concepts quite succinctly. His writings covered several subjects like astrohphysics, politics, astronomy and viewpoints. We have tried to take a stab here by collecting the famous quotes, thoughts and sayings by Neil deGrasse Tyson which have been excerpted from his writings, books, papers and interviews. Here is a selection of Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes on science, religion, humor, philosophy, spirituality, cosmology, atheism, astronomy, life, astrophysics and belief.
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The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.

The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.

For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.

We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
We spend the first year of a child's life teaching it to walk and talk and the rest of its life to shut up and sit down. There's something wrong there.

We spend the first year of a child's life teaching it to walk and talk and the rest of its life to shut up and sit down. There's something wrong there.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Curious that we spend more time congratulating people who have succeeded than encouraging people who have not.

Curious that we spend more time congratulating people who have succeeded than encouraging people who have not.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
The more I learn about the universe, the less convinced I am that there's any sort of benevolent force that has anything to do with it, at all.

The more I learn about the universe, the less convinced I am that there's any sort of benevolent force that has anything to do with it, at all.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
... there is no shame in not knowing. The problem arises when irrational thought and attendant behavior fill the vacuum left by ignorance.

... there is no shame in not knowing. The problem arises when irrational thought and attendant behavior fill the vacuum left by ignorance.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
My view is that if your philosophy is not unsettled daily then you are blind to all the universe has to offer.

My view is that if your philosophy is not unsettled daily then you are blind to all the universe has to offer.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
I want to put on the table, not why 85% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences reject God, I want to know why 15% of the National Academy don’t.

I want to put on the table, not why 85% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences reject God, I want to know why 15% of the National Academy don’t.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance.

God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Not only do we live among the stars, the stars live within us.

Not only do we live among the stars, the stars live within us.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.

Knowing how to think empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?

After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?

Neil deGrasse Tyson
The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.

The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
I know that the molecules in my body are traceable to phenomena in the cosmos. That makes me want to grab people on the street and say: ‘Have you HEARD THIS?

I know that the molecules in my body are traceable to phenomena in the cosmos. That makes me want to grab people on the street and say: ‘Have you HEARD THIS?

Neil deGrasse Tyson
There’s as many atoms in a single molecule of your DNA as there are stars in the typical galaxy. We are, each of us, a little universe.

There’s as many atoms in a single molecule of your DNA as there are stars in the typical galaxy. We are, each of us, a little universe.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
When scientifically investigating the natural world, the only thing worse than a blind believer is a seeing denier.

When scientifically investigating the natural world, the only thing worse than a blind believer is a seeing denier.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Where ignorance lurks, so too do the frontiers of discovery and imagination

Where ignorance lurks, so too do the frontiers of discovery and imagination

Neil deGrasse Tyson
So you're made of detritus [from exploded stars]. Get over it. Or better yet, celebrate it. After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?

So you're made of detritus [from exploded stars]. Get over it. Or better yet, celebrate it. After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Ignorance is a virus. Once it starts spreading, it can only be cured by reason. For the sake of humanity, we must be that cure.

Ignorance is a virus. Once it starts spreading, it can only be cured by reason. For the sake of humanity, we must be that cure.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Down there between our legs, it's like an entertainment complex in the middle of a sewage system. Who designed that?

Down there between our legs, it's like an entertainment complex in the middle of a sewage system. Who designed that?

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Dinosaurs are extinct today because they lacked opposable thumbs and the brainpower to build a space program.

Dinosaurs are extinct today because they lacked opposable thumbs and the brainpower to build a space program.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
So what is true for life itself is no less true for the universe: knowing where you came from is no less important than knowing where you are going.

So what is true for life itself is no less true for the universe: knowing where you came from is no less important than knowing where you are going.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Cutting PBS support (0.012% of budget) to help balance the Federal budget is like deleting text files to make room on your 500Gig hard drive

Cutting PBS support (0.012% of budget) to help balance the Federal budget is like deleting text files to make room on your 500Gig hard drive

Neil deGrasse Tyson
When students cheat on exams it's because our school system values grades more than students value learning.

When students cheat on exams it's because our school system values grades more than students value learning.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. After the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.

The remarkable feature of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them. After the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
Scientific inquiry shouldn't stop just because a reasonable explanation has apparently been found.

Scientific inquiry shouldn't stop just because a reasonable explanation has apparently been found.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
If you need to invoke your academic pedigree or job title for people to believe what you say, then you need a better argument.

If you need to invoke your academic pedigree or job title for people to believe what you say, then you need a better argument.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
I love the smell of the universe in the morning.

I love the smell of the universe in the morning.

Neil deGrasse Tyson
God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller and smaller as time moves on.

God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller and smaller as time moves on.

Neil deGrasse Tyson