--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At every stage of understanding the…" description: "\"At every stage of understanding the universe better, the benefits to civilisation have been immeasurable. None of those big leaps were made with us kno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/brian-cox-8883_benefits_at-every-stage-of-understanding-the-univ_1004026.jpg" --- # At every stage of understanding the universe better, the… ![“At every stage of understanding the universe better, the benefits to civilisation have been immeasurable. None of those big leaps were made with us knowing what was going to happen.” quote by Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/brian-cox-8883_benefits_at-every-stage-of-understanding-the-univ_1004026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/brian-cox-8883_benefits_at-every-stage-of-understanding-the-univ_1004026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35b/brian-cox-8883_benefits_at-every-stage-of-understanding-the-univ_1004026.jpg) > “At every stage of understanding the universe better, the benefits to civilisation have been immeasurable. None of those big leaps were made with us knowing what was going to happen.” [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advancing scientific knowledge yields huge, unpredictable benefits for humanity, even when outcomes are uncertain. **In simple terms:** Science brings huge, unexpected benefits. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and research. Themes science progress civilisation uncertainty Mood optimistic inquisitive Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - policy making - education - technology development - public health - environmental planning Key Concepts Innovation knowledge spillover long‑term impact Questions to Reflect On - How can we anticipate and mitigate risks of new discoveries? - What responsibilities do scientists have to society? A Different Perspective Unforeseen consequences can be negative as well as positive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Benefits Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits-civilisation-2137879/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation/) [Civilisation Immeasurable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation-immeasurable-2137880/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Leap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leap/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding the universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-the-universe-197613/) [Understanding Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-universe-622045/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-better-1604977/) ## Related quotes > [We are the only instrument for understanding the universe. We have to ground it in human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-nolan/we-are-the-only-instrument-for-understanding-the-universe-we-have-to/) [Jonathan Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-nolan/) > [The progress of the human race in understanding the universe has established a small corner of order in an increasingly disordered universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-progress-of-the-human-race-in-understanding-the-universe-has/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Keep in mind that every single generation before us has worked under the assumption that they possessed all the major tools for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/keep-in-mind-that-every-single-generation-before-us-has-worked-under/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [The more of us that feel the universe, the better off we will be in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-more-of-us-that-feel-the-universe-the-better-off-we-will-be-in/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You may have decided that the universe is better off without you, but the universe doesn't agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/you-may-have-decided-that-the-universe-is-better-off-without-you-but/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Conquering matter is to understand it, and understanding matter is necessary to understanding the universe and ourselves: and that therefore Mendeleev's Periodic Table, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/conquering-matter-is-to-understand-it-and-understanding-matter-is/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [“I keep waiting for the universe to decide things for me, and the thing is, the universe has better things to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-keep-waiting-for-the-universe-to-decide-things-for-me-and-the-thing/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“There are some things in this universe that are better left unknown. Some knowledge changes you. That knowledge exact a terrible toll!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-c-currie/there-are-some-things-in-this-universe-that-are-better-left-unknown/) [Evan C. Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-c-currie/) > [It's all about trying to make the world and the universe a better place. I'm proud to be connected with it. I think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/it-s-all-about-trying-to-make-the-world-and-the-universe-a-better/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [After sleeping through a hundred million centuries, we have finally opened our eyes on a sumptuous planet, sparkling with color, bountiful with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/after-sleeping-through-a-hundred-million-centuries-we-have-finally-2/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have written the evidence of our existence onto the surface of our planet. Our civilisation has become a beacon, that identifies our planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/we-have-written-the-evidence-of-our-existence-onto-the-surface-of-our/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Dad was a difference maker. He reached out to people. He took them by the awe and wonder we feel over the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-sagan/dad-was-a-difference-maker-he-reached-out-to-people-he-took-them-by/) [Nick Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-sagan/) > [Logic only tells us what's there; it can't really address what isn't. Even the most devoted empiricist must admit that we have no hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/logic-only-tells-us-what-s-there-it-can-t-really-address-what-isn-t/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) > [I found it stimulating to study the sciences. It was a side of understanding the universe that I hadn't been exposed to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/i-found-it-stimulating-to-study-the-sciences-it-was-a-side-of/) [Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/) > [“Our understanding of the universe is like a story without a beginning or end where the reader is creating the plot as he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-figueroa-otero/our-understanding-of-the-universe-is-like-a-story-without-a-beginning/) [Ivan Figueroa-Otero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-figueroa-otero/) ## More by Brian Cox > [You dig deeper and it gets more and more complicated, and you get confused, and it's tricky and it's hard, but... It is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/you-dig-deeper-and-it-gets-more-and-more-complicated-and-you-get/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I didn't have this feeling that I should be a leading actor in the cinema. And I wouldn't want the responsibility of the opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-didn-t-have-this-feeling-that-i-should-be-a-leading-actor-in-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-correct-statement-of-individual-rights-is-that-everyone-has-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I was living in London and I thought, 'There's nothing here for me anymore.' I don't want to become this actor who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-was-living-in-london-and-i-thought-there-s-nothing-here-for-me/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I enjoy acting now more than I ever have. I've had lots of difficult times when I was younger, but that was all tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-enjoy-acting-now-more-than-i-ever-have-i-ve-had-lots-of-difficult/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The problem is that the U.K. in essence is a feudal society. It's everyone in their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-problem-is-that-the-u-k-in-essence-is-a-feudal-society-it-s/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Deeper understanding confers that most precious thing - wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/deeper-understanding-confers-that-most-precious-thing-wonder/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“Later, we shall see that if it were possible to exceed the speed of light, we could construct time machines capable of transporting us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/later-we-shall-see-that-if-it-were-possible-to-exceed-the-speed-of/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [It would be wonderful if ideas could be the new rock 'n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/it-would-be-wonderful-if-ideas-could-be-the-new-rock-n-roll/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I've directed a couple of times in the theater, but I wouldn't make a habit of it because it's too consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-ve-directed-a-couple-of-times-in-the-theater-but-i-wouldn-t-make-a/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [“I'm comfortable with the unknown -- that's the point of science. There are places out there, billions of places out there, that we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-m-comfortable-with-the-unknown-that-s-the-point-of-science-there/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [The story of the universe finally comes to an end. For the first time in its life, the universe will be permanent and unchanging.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/the-story-of-the-universe-finally-comes-to-an-end-for-the-first-time/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I did a film in which Andy Garcia and Michael Keaton both played the leads, 'Desperate Measures,' and interestingly enough it was their biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-did-a-film-in-which-andy-garcia-and-michael-keaton-both-played-the/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [Science is too important not to be a part of popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/science-is-too-important-not-to-be-a-part-of-popular-culture/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) > [I always think I look like the Elephant Man - I can't get used to my own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-cox/i-always-think-i-look-like-the-elephant-man-i-can-t-get-used-to-my/) [Brian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) [Explore all 77 Brian Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-cox/) ## More Benefits quotes > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Shortly after I turned 50, both Ted Turner and the AARP came into my life. The only difference? With AARP, there were benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/shortly-after-i-turned-50-both-ted-turner-and-the-aarp-came-into-my/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-think-of-education-as-the-means-of-developing-our-greatest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To really be of benefit to others as the Buddha always taught, we ourselves must first get out of the swamp. One of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/to-really-be-of-benefit-to-others-as-the-buddha-always-taught-we/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [I won the seat of Oxley largely on an issue that has resulted in me being called a racist. That issue related to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-hanson/i-won-the-seat-of-oxley-largely-on-an-issue-that-has-resulted-in-me/) [Pauline Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-hanson/) > [Intelligence is a separate gift, for the benefit of students, so that they may think of themselves as intellectual and not very intelligent, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/intelligence-is-a-separate-gift-for-the-benefit-of-students-so-that/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I've always said that I benefit, as an actor, from not having the illusion of security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-ve-always-said-that-i-benefit-as-an-actor-from-not-having-the/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) [Browse all 3,616 Benefits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At every stage of understanding the universe better, the benefits to civilisation have been immeasurable. 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