Air Quote by Alan Moore
“And yet, in each human coupling, a thousand million sperm vie for a single egg. Multiply those odds by countless generations, against the odds of your ancestors being alive; meeting; siring this precise son; that exact daughter... Until your mother loves a man she has every reason to hate, and of that union, of the thousand million children competing for fertilization, it was you, only you, that emerged. To distill so specific a form from that chaos of improbability, like turning air to gold... that is the crowning unlikelihood. The thermodynamic miracle.”
About This Quote
Source Graphic Novel: Watchmen, 1986
Our existence is a miraculous convergence of countless improbable events.
In simple terms: Life is a rare miracle.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the improbability of your existence.
Themes
existence
miracle
probability
Mood
wonderful
humbling
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- family
- relationships
- personal identity
- philosophical reflection
Key Concepts
determinism
chaos theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this perspective change about your life?
- How do you find meaning amid chaos?
A Different Perspective
Focus on odds can diminish agency; randomness can be unsettling.
![“[...] Deep within, her female organs began to contract and release. She felt the path of his seed and now in her mind she could see a golden trail. How was this even possible? Dear God, how was any of this even possible? Now she could see the chrysalis of her genetic material, a bright burning…” quote by Caris Roane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b6e/caris-roane-38980_baby-making_deep-within-her-female-organs-began-to-c_2394576.jpg)
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)