One of the English science-fiction writers once said, 'Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.' ... I must say I agree with him.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The uncertainty about whether we are alone in the universe is overwhelming regardless of the answer.
- In plain terms
- Whether we are alone or not, the thought is mind-blowing.
- What can you take from it?
- Accept that cosmic uncertainty is inherently awe-inspiring.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does solitude mean to you?
- Does the scale of the universe change your view on life?
Another view
It avoids taking a stance on the actual likelihood of extraterrestrial life.
More from Arthur C. Clarke
Our lifetime may be the last that will be lived out in a technological society.
Permalink to quote #66 In 'Credo,' an essay published in 1991, Clarke lays out a belief system by distinguishing between two views of God: Alpha, who 'rewards good and evil in some v…
Permalink to quote #68 We should always be prepared for future technologies, because otherwise they will come along and clobber us.
Permalink to quote #65
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