# Catastrophic events have a way of sneaking up on us, of catching us unaware by Carl Sagan > "Catastrophic events have a way of sneaking up on us, of catching us unaware." > **— Carl Sagan**, *Pale Blue Dot (1994), excerpt candidate* Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: Pale Blue Dot (1994), excerpt candidate.