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I was on par with the Creator of the Universe there in the dark in the cocktail lounge. I shrunk the Universe to a ball exactly one light-year in diameter. I had it explode. I had it disperse itself again. Ask me a question, any question. How old is the Universe? It is one half-second old, but the half-second has lasted one quintillion years so far. Who created it? Nobody created it. It has always been here. What is time? It is a serpent which eats its tail, like this: This is the snake which uncoiled itself long enough to offer Eve the apple, which looked like this: What was the apple which Eve and Adam ate? It was the Creator of the Universe. And so on. Symbols can be so beautiful, sometimes.

Kurt Vonnegut#88

PhilosophyCreativitySymbolsImaginationCosmos

About this quote

What does it mean?
Imagination and symbols allow us to conceptualize vast cosmic ideas in accessible ways.
In plain terms
You can shrink the universe in your mind using symbols.
What can you take from it?
Use symbols to understand big ideas.

Where it applies

  • learning
  • storytelling
  • spiritual reflection

Putting it to work

  • metaphor use
  • visualization
  • studying mythology

Questions to consider

  • How do you understand the universe?
  • What symbols help you?

Another view

Symbols can be subjective and misinterpreted.

More from Kurt Vonnegut

  1. To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool.

    Permalink to quote #87
  2. Why are so many Americans treated by their government as though their lives were as disposable as paper facial tissue? Because that was the way authors customa…

    Permalink to quote #89
  3. Roses are red And ready for plucking You're sixteen And ready for high school.

    Permalink to quote #86

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