"But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright Brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown"

In this quote, Carl Sagan is highlighting the fact that just because someone is made fun of, it does not always indicate that they are a genius. He utilizes examples of historic figures such as Columbus, Fulton, and the Wright Brothers who were at first ridiculed for their ideas and developments, but ultimately proved to be geniuses. Nevertheless, Sagan also discusses that not everyone who is made fun of is a genius, as seen when it comes to Bozo the Clown. This quote serves as a suggestion that while it is important to be open-minded and not dismiss concepts that might seem non-traditional, it is also crucial to utilize crucial thinking and not blindly follow everything that is presented to us.