--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world had opened out and so had the…" description: "\"“The world had opened out and so had the universe, or what she since had thought must have been the universe, lying all spread out before her, with eve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/clifford-d-simak-12884_enlightenment_the-world-had-opened-out-and-so-had-the_1499977.jpg" --- # The world had opened out and so had the universe, or what… ![“The world had opened out and so had the universe, or what she since had thought must have been the universe, lying all spread out before her, with ever nook revealed, with all the knowledge, all the reasons there - a universe in which time and space had been ruled out because time and space were…” quote by Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/clifford-d-simak-12884_enlightenment_the-world-had-opened-out-and-so-had-the_1499977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/clifford-d-simak-12884_enlightenment_the-world-had-opened-out-and-so-had-the_1499977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/clifford-d-simak-12884_enlightenment_the-world-had-opened-out-and-so-had-the_1499977.jpg) > ““The world had opened out and so had the universe, or what she since had thought must have been the universe, lying all spread out before her, with ever nook revealed, with all the knowledge, all the reasons there - a universe in which time and space had been ruled out because time and space were only put there, in the first place, to make it impossible for anyone to grasp the universe. Seen for a moment, half-sensed, a flash of insight that had been gone before there had been time for it to register on her brain, sensed and known for an instant only and then gone so quickly that it had left impression only, no certain memory and no solid knowledge, but impressions only, like a face seen in a lightning flash and then the darkness closing in,”” [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fleeting, overwhelming realization of the universe’s vastness and mystery, momentary and hard to retain. **In simple terms:** Brief insight into the universe’s enormity. Key Takeaway Cherish moments of profound insight. Themes wonder philosophy epistemology existentialism Mood awe curiosity melancholy Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - stargazing - philosophical contemplation - creative writing - educational lectures Key Concepts cosmology perception memory knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How do you capture fleeting moments of insight? - What does this say about human limits of understanding? A Different Perspective Such insights are often fleeting and may be misinterpreted without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Opened Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opened-universe-5497193/) [Thought Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-universe-500274/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-space/) [Universe Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-lying-5497194/) [Universe Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-seen-2210565/) [Universe Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-thought-1437326/) ## Related quotes > [“VII From my village I see as much of the universe as can be seen from the earth, And so my village is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/vii-from-my-village-i-see-as-much-of-the-universe-as-can-be-seen-from/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“When you send out a powerful thought into the universe, you send out ripples to all parts of it which come back to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-send-out-a-powerful-thought-into-the-universe-you-send-out/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“At first I couldn't see anything. I fumbled along the cobblestone street. I lit a cigarette. Suddenly the moon appeared from behind a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/at-first-i-couldn-t-see-anything-i-fumbled-along-the-cobblestone/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [“Everything starts with a thought. The universe is very sensitive to a human being. Even just one single clear thought, goes off into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rajkotwala/everything-starts-with-a-thought-the-universe-is-very-sensitive-to-a/) [Sarah Rajkotwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rajkotwala/) > [Fear only exists when you do not understand that you have the power to project thought and that the Universe will respond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/fear-only-exists-when-you-do-not-understand-that-you-have-the-power/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Carter thought the Universe was a lot like God, except that the Universe didn't have a book telling you how to be and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/carter-thought-the-universe-was-a-lot-like-god-except-that-the/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [“I thought, There is nowhere else in the universe I would rather be at this moment. I could count the places I would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/i-thought-there-is-nowhere-else-in-the-universe-i-would-rather-be-at-2/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [Somerset Maugham ... wrote somewhere that "Nobody is any better than he ought to be."... I carried it along with me as a working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/somerset-maugham-wrote-somewhere-that-nobody-is-any-better-than-he/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [The Logos was both that which thought, and the thing which it thought: thinker and thought together. The universe, then, is thinker and thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-logos-was-both-that-which-thought-and-the-thing-which-it-thought/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“Just the thought of you and all the universe conspires against me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-limbu/just-the-thought-of-you-and-all-the-universe-conspires-against-me/) [J. Limbu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-limbu/) > [We don't know why we are here and the context of our role in the universe, and the thought of an infinite universe. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/we-don-t-know-why-we-are-here-and-the-context-of-our-role-in-the/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [It is possible that our race may be an accident, in a meaningless universe, living its brief life uncared for, on this dark, cooling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-day/it-is-possible-that-our-race-may-be-an-accident-in-a-meaningless-2/) [Clarence Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-day/) > [The universe is a thought of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/the-universe-is-a-thought-of-god/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Ever since the Enlightenment, people thought that we were living in a rational universe. They thought that God was a mathematician and that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kandel/ever-since-the-enlightenment-people-thought-that-we-were-living-in-a/) [Eric Kandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kandel/) > [We don't know why we are here and . . . our role in the universe, and the thought of an infinite universe. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/we-don-t-know-why-we-are-here-and-our-role-in-the-universe-and-the/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) ## More by Clifford D. Simak > [Must faith be exactly that, the willingness and ability to believe in the face of a lack of evidence? If one could find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/must-faith-be-exactly-that-the-willingness-and-ability-to-believe-in/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Time is still the great mystery to us. It is no more than a concept; we don't know if it even exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/time-is-still-the-great-mystery-to-us-it-is-no-more-than-a-concept-we/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [My reluctance to use alien invasion is due to the feeling that we are not likely to be invaded and taken over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/my-reluctance-to-use-alien-invasion-is-due-to-the-feeling-that-we-are/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Inside the time bubble we do not age. We age only when we are outside of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/inside-the-time-bubble-we-do-not-age-we-age-only-when-we-are-outside/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [The chain of life runs smoothly from one generation to the next and none of the links stand out except here and there a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/the-chain-of-life-runs-smoothly-from-one-generation-to-the-next-and/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“Man's inability to understand and appreciate the thought and viewpoint of another man would be a stumbling block which no amount of mechanical ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/man-s-inability-to-understand-and-appreciate-the-thought-and/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [Here lies one from a distant star, but the soil is not alien to him, for in death he belongs to the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/here-lies-one-from-a-distant-star-but-the-soil-is-not-alien-to-him/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [I have not long to live. I have lasted more than a man's average allotted span, and while I still am hale and hearty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-have-not-long-to-live-i-have-lasted-more-than-a-man-s-average/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [I did not want to move. For I had the feeling that this was a place, once seen, that could not be seen again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-did-not-want-to-move-for-i-had-the-feeling-that-this-was-a-place/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“Money here on Earth is more than the paper or the metal that you use for money, more than the rows of figures that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/money-here-on-earth-is-more-than-the-paper-or-the-metal-that-you-use/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [“Bridgeport, Wis. July 11, 1987 I write this letter to myself, so that the postmark may prove beyond controversy the day and year that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/bridgeport-wis-july-11-1987-i-write-this-letter-to-myself-so-that-the/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [It is only of life on Earth, however, that one can speak with any certainty. It seems to me that all life on Earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/it-is-only-of-life-on-earth-however-that-one-can-speak-with-any/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [This is the very center of everything there is. A huge black hole eating up the galaxy. The end of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/this-is-the-very-center-of-everything-there-is-a-huge-black-hole/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [When I talk of the purpose of life, I am thinking not only of human life, but of all life on Earth and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/when-i-talk-of-the-purpose-of-life-i-am-thinking-not-only-of-human/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) > [I have tried at times to place humans in perspective against the vastness of universal time and space. I have been concerned with where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-d-simak/i-have-tried-at-times-to-place-humans-in-perspective-against-the/) [Clifford D. Simak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) [Explore all 52 Clifford D. Simak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-d-simak/) ## More Enlightenment quotes > [“Intelligence says think. Understanding says ponder. Insight says perceive. Enlightenment says overcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/intelligence-says-think-understanding-says-ponder-insight-says/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I think enlightenment is something that you decide to do after you have met someone who is enlightened. Something touches your heart, your being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-enlightenment-is-something-that-you-decide-to-do-after-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Don't worry. These poses have nothing to do with meditation or enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharma-mittra/don-t-worry-these-poses-have-nothing-to-do-with-meditation-or/) [Dharma Mittra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharma-mittra/) [Browse all 3,404 Enlightenment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The world had opened out and so had the universe, or what she since had thought must have been the universe, lying all spread out before her, with ever nook revealed, with all the knowledge, all the reasons there - a universe in which time and space had been ruled out because time and space were only put there, in the first place, to make it impossible for anyone to grasp the universe. Seen for a moment, half-sensed, a flash of insight that had been gone before there had been time for it to register on her brain, sensed and known for an instant only and then gone so quickly that it had left impression only, no certain memory and no solid knowledge, but impressions only, like a face seen in a lightning flash and then the darkness closing in,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clifford D. 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