Carl Sagan on how far we have come

[Torchlight]

2. He's a reason that even my darkest despairs about humanity are tempered with light

and hope. He had a gentle way of reminding a kid in his formative teen years that humans have come so far and done so much together.

He quietly prodded me into realizing that every problem created by humans can be solved by humans... if the will is there, and if instead of standing face to face to confront, we stand shoulder to shoulder to overcome.