--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In knowing the world we humanize it, and…" description: "\"“In knowing the world we humanize it, and if, as we discover it, we are astonished at its dimensions and its complexity, we should be just as astonishe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/alan-w-watts-9497_perceive_in-knowing-the-world-we-humanize-it-and_63124.jpg" --- # In knowing the world we humanize it, and if, as we… ![“In knowing the world we humanize it, and if, as we discover it, we are astonished at its dimensions and its complexity, we should be just as astonished that we have the brains to perceive it.” quote by Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/alan-w-watts-9497_perceive_in-knowing-the-world-we-humanize-it-and_63124.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/alan-w-watts-9497_perceive_in-knowing-the-world-we-humanize-it-and_63124.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/alan-w-watts-9497_perceive_in-knowing-the-world-we-humanize-it-and_63124.jpg) > ““In knowing the world we humanize it, and if, as we discover it, we are astonished at its dimensions and its complexity, we should be just as astonished that we have the brains to perceive it.”” [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing the universe's vastness and intricacy should inspire humility and awe at our cognitive capacity to understand it. **In simple terms:** Awareness of complexity fuels humility. Key Takeaway Our minds are remarkable tools for grasping the cosmos. Themes humility cognition wonder complexity perspective Mood wonder humility awe Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - studying astronomy - philosophical reflection - educational curricula Key Concepts human perception cosmic scale intellectual awe Practical Applications - science communication - personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing our mental limits shape our curiosity? - What responsibilities arise from our ability to comprehend complexity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonished Brains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonished-brains-852464/) [Brains Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-perceive-852462/) [Knowing World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-world-852463/) [Perceive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive/) [World Humanize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-humanize-852465/) ## Related quotes > [When we brand things, our brains perceive them as more special and valuable than they actually are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lindstrom/when-we-brand-things-our-brains-perceive-them-as-more-special-and/) [Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lindstrom/) > [“Instead, it may be that experience itself has changed our brains so that we perceive and interpret the world in a certain way. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/instead-it-may-be-that-experience-itself-has-changed-our-brains-so/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [“But one thing is certain: every day in America, thousands of people appear before a jury of their peers and hope they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/but-one-thing-is-certain-every-day-in-america-thousands-of-people/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [ You may reason that we have \[brains\] to perceive the world or to think, and that's completely wrong. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wolpert/you-may-reason-that-we-have-brains-to-perceive-the-world-or-to-think/) [Daniel Wolpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wolpert/) > [All that we "know" is what registers on our brains, so what you perceive (your individual reality-tunnel) is made up of nothing but thoughts—as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/all-that-we-know-is-what-registers-on-our-brains-so-what-you-perceive/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [The terror of knowing what this world is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-band/the-terror-of-knowing-what-this-world-is-about/) [Queen (band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-band/) > [At its best, fiction is not a diversion but a means of knowing the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/at-its-best-fiction-is-not-a-diversion-but-a-means-of-knowing-the/) [Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/) > [“How often did this happen to people, this not knowing where in the world you were?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/how-often-did-this-happen-to-people-this-not-knowing-where-in-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The Self is the only thing that is worth knowing. Nothing else in this world is worth knowing. The other things which you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-self-is-the-only-thing-that-is-worth-knowing-nothing-else-in-this/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“It seems to me that being the right size for your world-- and knowing that both you and your world are not by any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/it-seems-to-me-that-being-the-right-size-for-your-world-and-knowing/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [That men have an interest in knowing the world which surrounds them, and consequently that their reflection should have been applied to it at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-durkheim/that-men-have-an-interest-in-knowing-the-world-which-surrounds-them/) [Emile Durkheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-durkheim/) > [There's a terror in knowing what the world is about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/there-s-a-terror-in-knowing-what-the-world-is-about/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [There's comfort in knowing that there's someone else in the world who gets you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myha-la/there-s-comfort-in-knowing-that-there-s-someone-else-in-the-world-who/) [Myha'la](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myha-la/) > [“Without knowing the world of others, your own world will never get rich!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/without-knowing-the-world-of-others-your-own-world-will-never-get-rich/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Walking shares with making and working that crucial element of engagement of the body and the mind with the world, of knowing the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/walking-shares-with-making-and-working-that-crucial-element-of/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) ## More by Alan W. Watts > [“This is what is called "honor among thieves," for the really dangerous people are those who do not recognize that they are thieves— the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-is-what-is-called-honor-among-thieves-for-the-really-dangerous/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“contrite, and in love with God. You can’t make”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/contrite-and-in-love-with-god-you-can-t-make/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“Those who speak, do not know; those who know, do not speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/those-who-speak-do-not-know-those-who-know-do-not-speak/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“Who wants to serve in a police vice squad, spending hours peeking into men’s johns to detect acts of homosexuality? Who wants a job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/who-wants-to-serve-in-a-police-vice-squad-spending-hours-peeking-into/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ “\[T\]he world as described is included in but is not the same as the world as it is. As a way of contemplation, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-world-as-described-is-included-in-but-is-not-the-same-as-the/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ “\[S\]een as a whole the universe is a harmony or symbiosis of patterns which cannot exist without each other.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/s-een-as-a-whole-the-universe-is-a-harmony-or-symbiosis-of-patterns/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“The Book I am thinking about would not be religious in the usual sense, but it would have to discuss many things with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/the-book-i-am-thinking-about-would-not-be-religious-in-the-usual/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“Great power is worry, and total power is boredom, such that even God renounces it and pretends, instead, that he is people and fish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/great-power-is-worry-and-total-power-is-boredom-such-that-even-god/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“The human organism has the same kind of innate intelligence as the ecosystems of nature, and the wisdom of the nerves and senses must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/the-human-organism-has-the-same-kind-of-innate-intelligence-as-the/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“We can never, never describe all the features of the total situation, not only because every situation is infinitely complex, but also because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/we-can-never-never-describe-all-the-features-of-the-total-situation/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“When there is a crack in the Cosmic Egg, Buddha is about to be born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/when-there-is-a-crack-in-the-cosmic-egg-buddha-is-about-to-be-born/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“...he will accompany us on a hike in the hills, leaping and whizzing back and forth, and coming when called as well as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/he-will-accompany-us-on-a-hike-in-the-hills-leaping-and-whizzing-back/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ “\[T\]he chances of survival are best when there is no anxiety to survive, and \[...\] the greatest power is available to those who do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-chances-of-survival-are-best-when-there-is-no-anxiety-to-survive/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [“This willful, compulsive, moralistic approach to man’s transformation always obstructs it—for it still implies that very illusion of self-mastery which stands in the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/this-willful-compulsive-moralistic-approach-to-man-s-transformation/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) [Explore all 72 Alan W. Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) ## More Perceive quotes > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You cannot perceive what you are not in the vibration of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/you-cannot-perceive-what-you-are-not-in-the-vibration-of/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [You perceive, now, that these things are all impossible except in a dream. You perceive that they are pure and puerile insanities, the silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/you-perceive-now-that-these-things-are-all-impossible-except-in-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Each person carries an entire world within himself, and everything exists twice: once the way it is, the other the way he perceives it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janusz-korczak/each-person-carries-an-entire-world-within-himself-and-everything/) [Janusz Korczak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janusz-korczak/) > [A great artist transforms our world, removes scales from our eyes, plugs from our ears, gloves from our fingertips, teaches us to perceive reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/a-great-artist-transforms-our-world-removes-scales-from-our-eyes/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/you-must-live-in-the-present-launch-yourself-on-every-wave-find-your/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I perceive the world through the wide range of emotions that whirl all around in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/i-perceive-the-world-through-the-wide-range-of-emotions-that-whirl/) [David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Faith is the capacity of the soul to perceive the abiding, the invisible in the visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-baeck/faith-is-the-capacity-of-the-soul-to-perceive-the-abiding-the/) [Leo Baeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-baeck/) > [The things you do determine the way people perceive you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-things-you-do-determine-the-way-people-perceive-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Conservatism is affecting the way women perceive who they are in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/conservatism-is-affecting-the-way-women-perceive-who-they-are-in-the/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [No one, it has been said, will ever look at the Moon in the same way again. More significantly can one say that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/no-one-it-has-been-said-will-ever-look-at-the-moon-in-the-same-way/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) [Browse all 1,499 Perceive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In knowing the world we humanize it, and if, as we discover it, we are astonished at its dimensions and its complexity, we should be just as astonished that we have the brains to perceive it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan W. 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