--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This area is off limits to our kind,”…" description: "\"“This area is off limits to our kind,” Grom says. “Humans have seen us here, and their stories will spread to more humans. Some will believe them, some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg" --- # This area is off limits to our kind,” Grom says. “Humans… ![“This area is off limits to our kind,” Grom says. “Humans have seen us here, and their stories will spread to more humans. Some will believe them, some will not. Those that do might come to investigate. We will not give them anything to find here.” His command is met with solemn nods. “You must…” quote by Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg) > ““This area is off limits to our kind,” Grom says. “Humans have seen us here, and their stories will spread to more humans. Some will believe them, some will not. Those that do might come to investigate. We will not give them anything to find here.” His command is met with solemn nods. “You must also realize,” he continues, “that it is only a matter of time now before this happens again. Maybe not in our generation, maybe not in the next. But the time is coming when humans will find us. We all must think about what this means for us individually, but most importantly, for our kind. Go home now to your families. Tell them what has happened. Talk with them about what might.”” [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans may eventually discover a hidden alien presence, prompting personal and collective reflection. **In simple terms:** Aliens may be found soon, affecting us all. Key Takeaway Prepare for potential contact and its implications. Themes future uncertainty contact humanity responsibility Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical speculative When to use this quote - space exploration - government policy - family discussions - media coverage Key Concepts existential risk communication ethics Questions to Reflect On - What ethical responsibilities arise with potential alien contact? - How should societies balance secrecy and transparency? A Different Perspective Assuming contact is inevitable may cause panic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Matter of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“There’s something else,” Grom blurts. He rakes his hand through his hair, something Galen does when he’s particularly frustrated. I find my immature self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/there-s-something-else-grom-blurts-he-rakes-his-hand-through-his-hair/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“And then Grom says: "I'm already mated to Paca." The realization slaps us each in a different way. Me, with elation Galen, with...I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/and-then-grom-says-i-m-already-mated-to-paca-the-realization-slaps-us/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“I wish I worried about my uncle's opinions, and had problems to work out with my mom. Hell, I'd settle for knowing what her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-wish-i-worried-about-my-uncle-s-opinions-and-had-problems-to-work/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Tony then explained how 'fucking stupid' most people are and believe anything as long as you liberally apply the words 'I Love You'. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sheridan/tony-then-explained-how-fucking-stupid-most-people-are-and-believe/) Thomas Sheridan > [When we look at our children, I think a lot of the troubles we're having as a society is because we don't have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-watson/when-we-look-at-our-children-i-think-a-lot-of-the-troubles-we-re/) [Benjamin Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-watson/) > [Not only have computers changed the way we think, they've also discovered what makes humans think - or think we're thinking. At least enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/not-only-have-computers-changed-the-way-we-think-they-ve-also/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Humans can think inhuman thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/humans-can-think-inhuman-thoughts/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Humans think in stories, and we try to make sense of the world by telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/humans-think-in-stories-and-we-try-to-make-sense-of-the-world-by/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“HUMANS THINK THAT NATURE GIVES SERVICE TO HIM SO IT IS SERVANT OF HIS, BUT HE DOES'NT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE CHILDREN'S OF NATURE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omkar-patil/humans-think-that-nature-gives-service-to-him-so-it-is-servant-of-his/) Omkar Patil > [“Humans should not think too much. Too much thinking creates short actions. Thinking far creates protection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rema-thankappan/humans-should-not-think-too-much-too-much-thinking-creates-short/) Rema Thankappan > [Bullying has been around since humans have been around, I think. I think it is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-eisley/bullying-has-been-around-since-humans-have-been-around-i-think-i/) [India Eisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-eisley/) > [There are three choices in life and sport - either you do it, you don't do it or you think about it. Most humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/there-are-three-choices-in-life-and-sport-either-you-do-it-you-don-t/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [“Humans think they are rational, and they think they understand their reality. But they are wrong on both counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/humans-think-they-are-rational-and-they-think-they-understand-their/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [... this idea, that humans are essentially weak creatures, is actually deeply woven into a lot of the ways in which humans think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lieberman/this-idea-that-humans-are-essentially-weak-creatures-is-actually/) Daniel Lieberman > [I think the basic thing that happened is we have lost our story. Humans think in stories, and we try to make sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/i-think-the-basic-thing-that-happened-is-we-have-lost-our-story/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## More by Anna Banks > [“I won't meet his glare. "I guess I didn't care." Telling him I meant to murder his sister probably wouldn't go over very well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-won-t-meet-his-glare-i-guess-i-didn-t-care-telling-him-i-meant-to/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“He'd live on land and eat cheesecake for the rest of his life before that happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/he-d-live-on-land-and-eat-cheesecake-for-the-rest-of-his-life-before/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“The two-man crew of the patrol boat does not speak English. Rachel exploits this as best she can, while still dumping life jackets in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/the-two-man-crew-of-the-patrol-boat-does-not-speak-english-rachel/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“When it passes us, the driver tips his cap our way, eying us as if he thinks we're up to no good-the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/when-it-passes-us-the-driver-tips-his-cap-our-way-eying-us-as-if-he/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“Taking both of my hands, he pulls me into the tide. Salt water deepens the lavender satin of my gown to almost black. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/taking-both-of-my-hands-he-pulls-me-into-the-tide-salt-water-deepens/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“But I'm pretty sure Mom won't consent to a field trip across the country with my hot boyfriend. Especially not back to Florida." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/but-i-m-pretty-sure-mom-won-t-consent-to-a-field-trip-across-the/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“Nice shack," I tell him. "Trade you." "Any day." "Really? You like it?" He seems genuinely pleased. "What's not to like?" He stands back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/nice-shack-i-tell-him-trade-you-any-day-really-you-like-it-he-seems/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“And then what?” she says, pulling her hand from Grom’s grasp. “Then Grom will mate with Mom and live happily ever after twenty thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/and-then-what-she-says-pulling-her-hand-from-grom-s-grasp-then-grom/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“She needs to think you're still a couple. And you'll need to be convincing about it, too. Lots of kissing and stuff in case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/she-needs-to-think-you-re-still-a-couple-and-you-ll-need-to-be/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“As soon as she releases me, Galen grabs my hand and I don’t even have time to gasp before he snatches me to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/as-soon-as-she-releases-me-galen-grabs-my-hand-and-i-don-t-even-have/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“After all, her motto is "Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/after-all-her-motto-is-better-to-ask-for-forgiveness-than-permission/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“I’ve never skydived, bungee-jumped, or parasailed. As I remove the headset, I try to calculate the fall and can’t. Maybe my brain is protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/i-ve-never-skydived-bungee-jumped-or-parasailed-as-i-remove-the/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“Mark swings his own door open and meets us by the tailgate. "Why don't we ask Emma who she's coming with? I mean, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/mark-swings-his-own-door-open-and-meets-us-by-the-tailgate-why-don-t/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“And I’m not sure how much time has passed since Galen and his best friend, Toraf, left my house to retrieve Grom. Grom, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/and-i-m-not-sure-how-much-time-has-passed-since-galen-and-his-best/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [“Uh, we didn't get your name. Did you get his name, Emma?" she asks, as if on cue. "I tried, Chloe. But he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/uh-we-didn-t-get-your-name-did-you-get-his-name-emma-she-asks-as-if/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) [Explore all 237 Anna Banks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) ## More Matter of time quotes > [He's got everything. He' not a great player yet because he hasn't won any major championships, but it's a matter of time. He's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-price/he-s-got-everything-he-not-a-great-player-yet-because-he-hasn-t-won/) Nick Price > [Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now though. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-thing-i-ve-been-most-proud-of/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [“If you’re subjected to enough great salesmen and salespitches and marketing concepts for long enough—like from your earliest Saturday-morning cartoons, let’s say—it is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/if-you-re-subjected-to-enough-great-salesmen-and-salespitches-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [There's a weak link in every chain. And it's just a matter of time before this one snaps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gossip-girl/there-s-a-weak-link-in-every-chain-and-it-s-just-a-matter-of-time/) [Gossip Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gossip-girl/) > [I mis you so much much ,i know you so far how I wish you were here with me ...how you wish I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iam-winston/i-mis-you-so-much-much-i-know-you-so-far-how-i-wish-you-were-here/) Iam Winston > [Shortly after he became the first Muslim to attend cabinet, I urged Sadiq Khan to be prepared. The Islamophobes, the new McCarthyites, would at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/shortly-after-he-became-the-first-muslim-to-attend-cabinet-i-urged/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [I live a much better life without having to worry about people chasing me. I spent five years in prison from 21 to 26,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/i-live-a-much-better-life-without-having-to-worry-about-people/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) > [She explained that many people, but especially women, feel fraudulent when they are praised for their accomplishments. Instead of feeling worthy of recognition, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/she-explained-that-many-people-but-especially-women-feel-fraudulent/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Though I would have liked my chances in a rematch in 1998 if I were better prepared, it was clear then that computer superiority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/though-i-would-have-liked-my-chances-in-a-rematch-in-1998-if-i-were/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Theoretically, there are planets with an environment that can support life. As yet there is no evidence that there indeed is life on other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-sharma/theoretically-there-are-planets-with-an-environment-that-can-support/) [Rakesh Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-sharma/) > [Perhaps the single most important element in mastering the techniques and tactics of racing is experience. But once you have the fundamentals, acquiring the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lemond/perhaps-the-single-most-important-element-in-mastering-the-techniques/) [Greg LeMond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lemond/) > [“When you know what you know, live life in a transformed living, it's only a matter of time before people ask……what is your secret?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-frost/when-you-know-what-you-know-live-life-in-a-transformed-living-it-s/) [Anita Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-frost/) > [“For years, he’s been listening to her complain about being ignored by Justin and assuring it her it was simply a matter of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/for-years-he-s-been-listening-to-her-complain-about-being-ignored-by/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [It's only a matter of time until Facebook adds 'Friend-zoned' as a relationship status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-only-a-matter-of-time-until-facebook-adds-friend-zoned-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As long as is not the end of the world, situation are meant to change, no matter what you going through wont last forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/as-long-as-is-not-the-end-of-the-world-situation-are-meant-to-change/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) [Browse all 321 Matter of time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This area is off limits to our kind,” Grom says. “Humans have seen us here, and their stories will spread to more humans. Some will believe them, some will not. Those that do might come to investigate. We will not give them anything to find here.” His command is met with solemn nods. “You must also realize,” he continues, “that it is only a matter of time now before this happens again. Maybe not in our generation, maybe not in the next. But the time is coming when humans will find us. We all must think about what this means for us individually, but most importantly, for our kind. Go home now to your families. Tell them what has happened. Talk with them about what might.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anna Banks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom-says-humans-have-seen-us/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Matter of time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom-says-humans-have-seen-us/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3af/anna-banks-1453_matter-of-time_this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom_2179766.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This area is off limits to our kind,” Grom says. “Humans have seen us here, and their stories will spread to…” — Anna Banks", "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": "Anna Banks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This area is off limits to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom-says-humans-have-seen-us/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/this-area-is-off-limits-to-our-kind-grom-says-humans-have-seen-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 } } ] } ```