--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Vast migrations of people—some voluntary…" description: "\"“Vast migrations of people—some voluntary, most not—have shaped the human condition. More of us flee from war, oppression, and famine today than at any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/carl-sagan-160_better-place_vast-migrations-of-people-some-voluntary_1367275.jpg" --- # Vast migrations of people—some voluntary, most not—have… ![“Vast migrations of people—some voluntary, most not—have shaped the human condition. More of us flee from war, oppression, and famine today than at any other time in human history. As the Earth’s climate changes in the coming decades, there are likely to be far greater numbers of environmental…” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/carl-sagan-160_better-place_vast-migrations-of-people-some-voluntary_1367275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/carl-sagan-160_better-place_vast-migrations-of-people-some-voluntary_1367275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/carl-sagan-160_better-place_vast-migrations-of-people-some-voluntary_1367275.jpg) > ““Vast migrations of people—some voluntary, most not—have shaped the human condition. More of us flee from war, oppression, and famine today than at any other time in human history. As the Earth’s climate changes in the coming decades, there are likely to be far greater numbers of environmental refugees. Better places will always call to us. Tides of people will continue to ebb and flow across the planet. But the lands we run to now have already been settled. Other people, often unsympathetic to our plight, are there before us. \*”” [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human migration is driven by conflict, scarcity, and climate, creating cycles of displacement and settlement. **In simple terms:** People move because of war, famine, and climate change. Key Takeaway Recognize and address the root causes of displacement. Themes migration conflict climate change settlement human rights Mood concerned hopeful urgent Type sociopolitical reflective inspirational When to use this quote - policy planning - humanitarian aid - urban development - climate adaptation strategies Key Concepts refugee crises environmental displacement historical migration patterns Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance compassion for newcomers with existing residents’ concerns? - What policies best mitigate future environmental refugee flows? A Different Perspective Displacement can strain resources and provoke social tension in host communities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-place/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Ebb and flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ebb-and-flow/) [Environmental Refugees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-refugees-1854461/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Migrations People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/migrations-people-3379277/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Refugees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refugees/) [Refugees Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refugees-better-4698141/) [Vast Migrations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vast-migrations-4698140/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [If there are more and more environmental refugees, they are going to end up on your doorstep too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-fedoroff/if-there-are-more-and-more-environmental-refugees-they-are-going-to/) [Nina Fedoroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-fedoroff/) > [Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of "environmental refugees", people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/can-we-disregard-the-growing-phenomenon-of-environmental-refugees/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The latest computer modeling I've seen indicates that at mid-century, there might be 150 million people classified as "environmental refugees."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/the-latest-computer-modeling-i-ve-seen-indicates-that-at-mid-century/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Furthermore, the study of the present surroundings is insufficient: the history of the people, the influence of the regions through which it has passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-boas/furthermore-the-study-of-the-present-surroundings-is-insufficient-the/) [Franz Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-boas/) > [I know you're always supposed to want more of everything. 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One must accept them for what they are here and now, within their limits - islands surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/for-relationships-too-must-be-like-islands-one-must-accept-them-for/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Thou shoreless flood, which in thy ebb and flow claspest the limits of mortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/thou-shoreless-flood-which-in-thy-ebb-and-flow-claspest-the-limits-of/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“But everyone remembered; what she loved was this, here, now, in front of her; the fat lady in the cab. Did it matter then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/but-everyone-remembered-what-she-loved-was-this-here-now-in-front-of/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Finally, every society develops a system of aesthetic standards that get manifested in everything from decorative art, music, and dance to the architecture and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/finally-every-society-develops-a-system-of-aesthetic-standards-that/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [The seasons, like greater tides, ebb and flow across the continents. Spring advances up the United States at the average rate of about fifteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/the-seasons-like-greater-tides-ebb-and-flow-across-the-continents/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [What a strange power the perception of beauty is! It seems to ebb and flow like some secret tide, independent alike of health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/what-a-strange-power-the-perception-of-beauty-is-it-seems-to-ebb-and/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [“In the ebb and flow of my life, in years gone by, in moments now, in currents, undertows that almost did me in, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trabold/in-the-ebb-and-flow-of-my-life-in-years-gone-by-in-moments-now-in/) [Robert Trabold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trabold/) ## More by Carl Sagan > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. 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