“Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.”
- January 2, 1920 – April 6, 1992
- Born in Russia
- Author, biochemist (professor)
- Wrote many science fiction works, including the Foundation series and the Robotics series
Quote
“Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.”
Explanation
In this quote, Asimov stresses the great potential of humanity to reach the stars—both literally, through space exploration, and metaphorically, as a symbol of human progress and achievement. He warns that this promising future must not be derailed by ignorance, superstition, or irrational beliefs. The “juvenile folly” he refers to suggests that humanity’s growth and potential could be hindered by childish or simplistic thinking, while “ignorant superstition” refers to outdated beliefs that contradict reason, science, and empirical knowledge. Asimov’s call is for a future where rationality, science, and intellectual growth guide humanity’s progress, allowing us to reach new frontiers without being held back by baseless fears or antiquated traditions.
Asimov, who was a passionate advocate for science and reason, saw the potential for great advancements in technology and human understanding, particularly during the 20th century when space exploration began to capture the imagination of the world. He was deeply involved in the intellectual movements of his time, contributing both as a science fiction writer and a popularizer of science. The era of space exploration, which he witnessed with the moon landing and the early space missions, mirrored his vision of humanity reaching toward the stars. For Asimov, space was not only a physical frontier but a symbol of human potential—a future where we could overcome the limitations of our Earth-bound existence through the application of reason and scientific progress.
In the modern world, Asimov’s message is as relevant as ever. With space exploration advancing rapidly, through missions to Mars and the exploration of distant planets, the potential for humanity to become a multi-planetary species seems more achievable than ever. However, as Asimov warns, this future cannot be realized if superstition, anti-science movements, and irrational fears hold back progress. Whether through climate change denial, rejection of scientific methods in favor of pseudoscience, or resistance to new technologies, humanity’s future is still at risk from the forces of ignorance. Asimov’s quote is a call to embrace knowledge, rational thinking, and curiosity, so that humanity can pursue its highest ambitions without being weighed down by unfounded fears and outdated beliefs.
