--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The universe is so immense that it…" description: "\"The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the earth is only a chapter, less than that, a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg" --- # The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and… ![“The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the earth is only a chapter, less than that, a phrase, less still, only a word of the universe’s history.” quote by Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg) > “The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the earth is only a chapter, less than that, a phrase, less still, only a word of the universe’s history.” [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human life is a fleeting moment in the vast, seemingly unchanging universe. **In simple terms:** Our existence is brief compared to cosmic time. Key Takeaway Cherish each moment. Themes cosmos impermanence scale humility Mood awe humble Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - science education - existential contemplation Key Concepts astronomy philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does cosmic perspective affect daily life? - What responsibilities arise from this view? A Different Perspective May feel overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“Oh if only instead of being a hell, the universe had been an immense anus!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/comte-de-lautr-amont/oh-if-only-instead-of-being-a-hell-the-universe-had-been-an-immense/) [Comte de Lautréamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/comte-de-lautr-amont/) > [Behold a universe so immense that I am lost in it. I no longer know where I am. I am just nothing at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/behold-a-universe-so-immense-that-i-am-lost-in-it-i-no-longer-know/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [“The word "universe" means "one tune" or "one rhythm", and when we are in tune or in rhythm with it, it cannot help but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/the-word-universe-means-one-tune-or-one-rhythm-and-when-we-are-in/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“The word Universe is made up of two Latin words- uni (meaning "one") and versus (meaning "turned into"). It literally means "one turned into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-prentiss/the-word-universe-is-made-up-of-two-latin-words-uni-meaning-one-and/) [Chris Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-prentiss/) > [“If there is one word in the universe capable of softening hearts, it is this: Mommy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/if-there-is-one-word-in-the-universe-capable-of-softening-hearts-it/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Think not thy time short in this world, since the world itself is not long. The created world is but a small parenthesis in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/think-not-thy-time-short-in-this-world-since-the-world-itself-is-not/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [Death is not an event in life: we do not live to experience death. If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/death-is-not-an-event-in-life-we-do-not-live-to-experience-death-if/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [If we denote excitation as an end-effect by the sign plus (+), and inhibition as end-effect by the sign minus (-), such a reflex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-scott-sherrington/if-we-denote-excitation-as-an-end-effect-by-the-sign-plus-and/) [Charles Scott Sherrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-scott-sherrington/) > [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The Author of nature has not given laws to the universe, which, like the institutions of men, carry in themselves the elements of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-playfair/the-author-of-nature-has-not-given-laws-to-the-universe-which-like/) [John Playfair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-playfair/) > [It is well known that unemployment benefits raise unemployment durations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-chetty/it-is-well-known-that-unemployment-benefits-raise-unemployment/) [Raj Chetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-chetty/) > [What we know for sure from our work and from others' is that mice have a life span of 1,000 days, dogs have 5,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jay-olshansky/what-we-know-for-sure-from-our-work-and-from-others-is-that-mice-have/) [S. Jay Olshansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jay-olshansky/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Camille Flammarion > [There are men who would be afraid to commit themselves on the doctrine that castor oil is a laxative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/there-are-men-who-would-be-afraid-to-commit-themselves-on-the/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [The supernatural does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-supernatural-does-not-exist/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [Lightning is like an elementary spirit, eccentric or rational, clever or silly, passing from one extreme to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/lightning-is-like-an-elementary-spirit-eccentric-or-rational-clever/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [Nature is so varied in its modes of action, so multiple in the manisftations of its power, that we have no night to set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/nature-is-so-varied-in-its-modes-of-action-so-multiple-in-the/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [“Men... have had the vanity to pretend that the world creation was made for them, whilst in reality the whole creation does not suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/men-have-had-the-vanity-to-pretend-that-the-world-creation-was-made/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [What, then, is this blue sky, which certainly does exist, and which veils from us the stars during the day?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/what-then-is-this-blue-sky-which-certainly-does-exist-and-which-veils/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [Lightning seems a thought, which instead of being attached to a brain, is attached to an electric current.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/lightning-seems-a-thought-which-instead-of-being-attached-to-a-brain/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [The present inhabitation of Mars be a race superior to ours is very probable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-present-inhabitation-of-mars-be-a-race-superior-to-ours-is-very/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [It is in the name of Jesus, himself become God, that fanaticism ignominiously condemned to the stake men like Giodano Bruno, Vanini, Étienne Dolet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/it-is-in-the-name-of-jesus-himself-become-god-that-fanaticism/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [What intelligent being, what being capable of responding emotionally to a beautiful sight, can look at the jagged, silvery lunar crescent trembling in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/what-intelligent-being-what-being-capable-of-responding-emotionally/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [ Le Verrier-without leaving his study, without even looking at the sky-had found the unknown planet \[Neptune\] solely by mathematical calculation, and, as it were,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/le-verrier-without-leaving-his-study-without-even-looking-at-the-sky/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [That hemisphere of the moon which faces us is better known than the earth itself; its vast desert plains have been surveyed to within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/that-hemisphere-of-the-moon-which-faces-us-is-better-known-than-the/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [May we attribute to the color of the herbage and plants, which no doubt clothe the plains of Mars, the characteristic hue of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/may-we-attribute-to-the-color-of-the-herbage-and-plants-which-no/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [“Always preoccupied with his profound researches, the great Newton showed in the ordinary-affairs of life an absence of mind which has become proverbial. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/always-preoccupied-with-his-profound-researches-the-great-newton/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [If the existence of human beings leads to nothing, what is all this comedy about?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/if-the-existence-of-human-beings-leads-to-nothing-what-is-all-this/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) [Explore all 18 Camille Flammarion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) ## More Chapters quotes > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [John Lane has long been recognized as one of the South's finest poets and memoirists. This debut establishes him as one of our finest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/john-lane-has-long-been-recognized-as-one-of-the-south-s-finest-poets/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [I'm as much my own master as anyone can be, without being the master of others. I can write anywhere - all I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-woods/i-m-as-much-my-own-master-as-anyone-can-be-without-being-the-master/) [Stuart Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-woods/) > [There are something like 300 anti-genocide chapters on college campuses around the country. It's bigger than the anti-apartheid movement. There are something like 500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-are-something-like-300-anti-genocide-chapters-on-college/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The issue of civil rights was too much for the establishment to handle. One of the chapters of history that's least studied by historians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/the-issue-of-civil-rights-was-too-much-for-the-establishment-to/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [I learned that you can't write a book in the margins of your life. I'd forgotten how much uninterrupted time it takes to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-learned-that-you-can-t-write-a-book-in-the-margins-of-your-life-i-d/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [If you tell me, I will leave you alone," I said. "And if you don't tell me, I am going to grab the nearest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/if-you-tell-me-i-will-leave-you-alone-i-said-and-if-you-don-t-tell-me/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Stop revisiting chapters, That you know, How they ended.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquib-ali/stop-revisiting-chapters-that-you-know-how-they-ended/) [Aquib Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquib-ali/) > [Real life is a story, too, only much more complicated. It’s still got a beginning, a middle, and an end. Everyone follows the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wooding/real-life-is-a-story-too-only-much-more-complicated-it-s-still-got-a/) [Chris Wooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wooding/) > [Don´t be unnecessarily burdened by the past. Go on closing the chapters that you have read; there is no need to go back again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/don-t-be-unnecessarily-burdened-by-the-past-go-on-closing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The agency is who it is because of many, many, many chapters that needed to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-droga/the-agency-is-who-it-is-because-of-many-many-many-chapters-that/) [David Droga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-droga/) > [No book is a chapter, no chapter tells the whole story, no mistake defines who we are. Hope makes our lives page turners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/no-book-is-a-chapter-no-chapter-tells-the-whole-story-no-mistake/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I try to have a mood or a rhythm for a chapter,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-try-to-have-a-mood-or-a-rhythm-for-a-chapter/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) Browse all 751 Chapters quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the earth is only a chapter, less than that, a phrase, less still, only a word of the universe’s history.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Camille Flammarion" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appears-immutable-and-that-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chapters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appears-immutable-and-that-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/895/camille-flammarion-29232_chapters_the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appea_2086505.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The universe is so immense that it appears immutable, and that the duration of a planet such as that of the…” — Camille Flammarion", "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": "Camille Flammarion", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The universe is so immense that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appears-immutable-and-that-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/the-universe-is-so-immense-that-it-appears-immutable-and-that-the/#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 } } ] } ```