Sagan's rightful assessment of our planet's size in the scope of the universe is not the first realization of our species finite nature. As beautiful as his prose were in stating the obvious Shakespeare said much the the same in Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5,
Sagan wasn't the first to figure out our finite nature. Science however eventually confirmed what a select few humans guess at.
Macbeth Wrote:To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Sagan wasn't the first to figure out our finite nature. Science however eventually confirmed what a select few humans guess at.
