--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is unconceivable that the whole…" description: "\"It is unconceivable that the whole Universe was merely created for us who live in this third-rate planet of a third-rate moon.\" — Alfred Lord Tennyson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png" --- # It is unconceivable that the whole Universe was merely… ![“It is unconceivable that the whole Universe was merely created for us who live in this third-rate planet of a third-rate moon.” quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png) > “It is unconceivable that the whole Universe was merely created for us who live in this third-rate planet of a third-rate moon.” [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expresses awe at humanity’s insignificance in a vast cosmos, suggesting the universe was not made for us. **In simple terms:** We are tiny in a huge universe that isn’t centered on us. Key Takeaway Recognize humility before the cosmos. Themes humility cosmic perspective anthropocentrism Mood wonderful humble Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - philosophical debate - science education Key Concepts existentialism cosmology Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing our smallness affect your priorities? - What responsibilities arise from seeing the universe as indifferent? A Different Perspective It may overstate human relevance and ignore scientific evidence of a non‑anthropocentric universe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Merely Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merely-created-2470800/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rate/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Unconceivable Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconceivable-universe-2470799/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Merely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-merely-1458327/) ## Related quotes > [The universe is merely a fleeting idea in God's mind -- a pretty uncomfortable thought, particularly if you've just made a down payment on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-universe-is-merely-a-fleeting-idea-in-god-s-mind-a-pretty/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The laws governing the universe can be made interesting and wonderful to the child, more interesting even that things in themselves, and he begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-laws-governing-the-universe-can-be-made-interesting-and-wonderful/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [I love knowing that I am simultaneously as big as the universe and yet merely a heap of star dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bolte-taylor/i-love-knowing-that-i-am-simultaneously-as-big-as-the-universe-and/) [Jill Bolte Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bolte-taylor/) > [Any work that is not rooted in myth and poetry or that does not partake of the depth and essence of the universe is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-arp/any-work-that-is-not-rooted-in-myth-and-poetry-or-that-does-not/) [Hans Arp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-arp/) > [How can we be alive and not wonder about the stories we knit together this place we call the world? Without stories our universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/how-can-we-be-alive-and-not-wonder-about-the-stories-we-knit-together/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Do not think of how big the universe is, it will merely hurt your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/do-not-think-of-how-big-the-universe-is-it-will-merely-hurt-your-head/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [I've lost my mind," Alex muttered, grabbing her knives again and stomping back across the kitchen. "I woke up this morning a boring little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/i-ve-lost-my-mind-alex-muttered-grabbing-her-knives-again-and/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [I writhe when I see myself on the screen. I'm such a dreadfully clumsy hulking image. 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They become third-rate poets during their courtship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/with-most-people-not-describable-as-artists-all-the-finer-part-of/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [I was influenced by the Beats because I actually just began to commit adolescence around 1955, when "Howl" and Rebel Without a Cause and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/i-was-influenced-by-the-beats-because-i-actually-just-began-to-commit/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [I knew Id always be a second-rate academic, and I thought, Well, Id rather be a second-rate novelist or even a third-rate one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/i-knew-id-always-be-a-second-rate-academic-and-i-thought-well-id/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [Here is one of the fundamental defects of American fiction--perhaps the one character that sets it off sharply from all other known kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/here-is-one-of-the-fundamental-defects-of-american-fiction-perhaps/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The lower the family income, the higher the probability that the mother must work. Today, 1 out of 5 of these working mothers has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-lower-the-family-income-the-higher-the-probability-that-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [No, I was talking to the network and Universal about plans for a third season where Buck would go back to Earth and would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/no-i-was-talking-to-the-network-and-universal-about-plans-for-a-third/) [Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/) > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) ## More by Alfred Lord Tennyson > [Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers; Unfaith is aught is want of faith in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/faith-and-unfaith-can-ne-er-be-equal-powers-unfaith-is-aught-is-want/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/there-is-sweet-music-here-that-softer-falls-than-petals-from-blown/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I do but sing because I must; and pipe but as the linnets sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-do-but-sing-because-i-must-and-pipe-but-as-the-linnets-sing/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Here about the beach I wandered, nourishing a youth sublime With the fairy tales of science, and the long result of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/here-about-the-beach-i-wandered-nourishing-a-youth-sublime-with-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [So now I have sworn to bury All this dead body of hate I feel so free and so clear By the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/so-now-i-have-sworn-to-bury-all-this-dead-body-of-hate-i-feel-so-free/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [The jingling of the guinea helps the hurt that Honor feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-jingling-of-the-guinea-helps-the-hurt-that-honor-feels/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I come from haunts of coot and hern, I make a sudden sally And sparkle out among the fern, To bicker down a valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/i-come-from-haunts-of-coot-and-hern-i-make-a-sudden-sally-and-sparkle/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/willows-whiten-aspens-quiver-little-breezes-dusk-and-shiver/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/cast-all-your-cares-on-god-that-anchor-holds/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Such a one do I remember, whom to look at was love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/such-a-one-do-i-remember-whom-to-look-at-was-love/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [If Nature put not forth her power About the opening of the flower, Who is it that could live an hour?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/if-nature-put-not-forth-her-power-about-the-opening-of-the-flower-who/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [As the husband is the wife is; thou art mated with a clown, As the grossness of his nature will have weight to drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/as-the-husband-is-the-wife-is-thou-art-mated-with-a-clown-as-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Sin is too stupid to see beyond itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/sin-is-too-stupid-to-see-beyond-itself/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Thou madest man, he knows not why, he thinks he was not made to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/thou-madest-man-he-knows-not-why-he-thinks-he-was-not-made-to-die/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) [Explore all 501 Alfred Lord Tennyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## More Moon quotes > [“Because as the moon followed the sun, when Illium ascended to become an archangel, Aodhan would go with him as his second.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/because-as-the-moon-followed-the-sun-when-illium-ascended-to-become/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [The moon of a bright silver, which dazzles by its shining, illumines a world which surely is no longer ours; for it resembles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-loti/the-moon-of-a-bright-silver-which-dazzles-by-its-shining-illumines-a/) [Pierre Loti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-loti/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [I loved you to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-loved-you-to-the-moon-and-back/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > ['The Choirboys' is very much a product of its mid-1970s time, especially in its two-dimensional portrayals of cop groupies Ora Lee and Carolina Moon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/the-choirboys-is-very-much-a-product-of-its-mid-1970s-time-especially/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) > [“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ... quote has been credited to Les Brown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylviek/shoot-for-the-moon-even-if-you-miss-it-you-will-land-among-the-stars/) [Sylviek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylviek/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we can send a guy to the moon we can certainly go a quarter of a mile and not get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-prudhomme/if-we-can-send-a-guy-to-the-moon-we-can-certainly-go-a-quarter-of-a/) [Don Prudhomme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-prudhomme/) > [Never ignore a person who love you, care fot you,and misses you,because one day,you might wake up and realize, you lost the moon while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chou/never-ignore-a-person-who-love-you-care-fot-you-and-misses-you/) [Chou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chou/) > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-sky-was-a-sparkling-succession-of-black-diamonds-on-black-velvet/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) [Browse all 6,418 Moon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is unconceivable that the whole Universe was merely created for us who live in this third-rate planet of a third-rate moon.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Lord Tennyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-universe-was-merely-created-for-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Moon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-universe-was-merely-created-for-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/alfred-lord-tennyson-521_moon_it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-unive_1045740.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is unconceivable that the whole Universe was merely created for us who live in this third-rate planet of…” — Alfred Lord Tennyson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alfred Lord Tennyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is unconceivable that the whole...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-universe-was-merely-created-for-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/it-is-unconceivable-that-the-whole-universe-was-merely-created-for-us/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```