I think Jodie Foster's character in Contact (who is based on Jill Tarter, the real-life director of SETI research) says it best.

"Look, all I'm asking, is for you to just have the tiniest bit of vision. You know, to just sit back for one minute and look at the big picture. To take a chance on something that just might end up being the most profoundly impactful moment for humanity, for the history... of history."