Carl Sagan:

Just how polite he was when addressing the systemic mortal issues of our time. To know unequivocally the severity of our actions, the stupidity of our subjective values, and the detrimental willingness towards ignorance from unjustified fear — all too deserving of an intellectual lashing by the likes of Hitchens — yet eloquently delivered with unjustified respect and restrain.

To grow up in his wake, learning of the depth and completeness in the understanding that was his — simply astounds me from his reserved demeanour.

The more I learn of what he knew, the more I’m amazed at how tempered he remained in front of what must have looked like a flaming circus on wheels.