The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.

Neil deGrasse Tyson has used this line repeatedly in public-facing science communication—talks, interviews, and social media—typically when contrasting scientific knowledge with belief-based claims. The remark reflects a core theme of his outreach: that science is a method for testing ideas against the external world, and that its conclusions do not depend on personal conviction, ideology, or cultural preference. It is often invoked in discussions about public controversies (e.g., evolution, climate change, vaccines) to emphasize that empirical reality is not altered by denial or assent. While widely attributed to Tyson, it circulates largely as an aphorism rather than a single, clearly documented one-time utterance.

The quote draws a sharp distinction between belief (a psychological or social state) and truth in the scientific sense (claims supported by reproducible evidence and coherent theory). Tyson’s point is not that science is infallible, but that the natural world behaves consistently regardless of what anyone wishes were the case; belief cannot change gravity, disease transmission, or planetary motion. The line also implicitly defends objectivity: scientific statements aim to be publicly testable, so their validity is not contingent on authority or consensus alone. As a rhetorical tool, it challenges relativism and underscores the practical stakes of ignoring evidence.

1) “The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it.”
2) “Science is true whether you believe it or not.”
3) “Science is true, whether you believe in it or not.”