--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And where,\" Socrates smiled, \"is the…" description: "\"“And where,\" Socrates smiled, \"is the universe?\" \"The universe is well, there are theories about how it's shaped...\" \"That's not what I asked. Where is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/dan-millman-1475_humour_and-where-socrates-smiled-is-the-univers_3015792.jpg" --- # And where," Socrates smiled, "is the universe?" "The… ![“And where," Socrates smiled, "is the universe?" "The universe is well, there are theories about how it's shaped..." "That's not what I asked. Where is it?" "I don't know - how can I answer that?" "That is the point. You cannot answer it, and you never will. There is no knowing about it. You are…” quote by Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/dan-millman-1475_humour_and-where-socrates-smiled-is-the-univers_3015792.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/dan-millman-1475_humour_and-where-socrates-smiled-is-the-univers_3015792.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/dan-millman-1475_humour_and-where-socrates-smiled-is-the-univers_3015792.jpg) > ““And where," Socrates smiled, "is the universe?" "The universe is well, there are theories about how it's shaped..." "That's not what I asked. Where is it?" "I don't know - how can I answer that?" "That is the point. You cannot answer it, and you never will. There is no knowing about it. You are ignorant of where the universe is, and thus, where you are. In fact, you have no knowledge of where anything is or of What anything is or how is came to be. Life is a mystery. "My ignorance is based on this understanding. Your understanding is based on ignorance. This is why I am a humorous fool, and you are a serious jackass.”” [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dialogue illustrates that ultimate knowledge of the universe’s location is unattainable, highlighting human ignorance and the paradox of seeking certainty. **In simple terms:** We cannot know where the universe is, so we remain ignorant. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and question assumptions. Themes ignorance philosophy humor Mood thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical dialogue When to use this quote - personal reflection - academic debate - spiritual inquiry Key Concepts epistemology existentialism paradox Questions to Reflect On - How does embracing ignorance change your worldview? - What value lies in humor when confronting the unknown? A Different Perspective The claim that knowledge is impossible may discourage inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Based Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based-ignorance-1967701/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorance Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance-humorous-3792963/) [Ignorant Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant-universe-298980/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Life is a mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is-a-mystery/) [Mystery Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery-ignorance-439447/) [Seriousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriousness/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“My ignorance is based on this understanding. Your understanding is based on ignorance. 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Nor can I prove that the world and everything in it was not created by an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-prove-that-gods-do-not-exist-nor-can-i-prove-that-the-world/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-another-name-for-our-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-but-another-name-for-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [There are no words to describe the moments of life that go beyond your current experience. Sometimes you just have to pause at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-words-to-describe-the-moments-of-life-that-go-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life has three rules: Paradox, Humor, and Change. - Paradox: Life is a mystery; don't waste your time trying to figure it out. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/life-has-three-rules-paradox-humor-and-change-paradox-life-is-a/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Dont judge me based on your ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-judge-me-based-on-your-ignorance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Laypeople complain about the rule of experts and they demand greater involvement in complicated national questions, but many of them only express their anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-nichols/laypeople-complain-about-the-rule-of-experts-and-they-demand-greater/) [Thomas M. 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Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [But promises based on ignorance always prove disappointing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jussi-adler-olsen/but-promises-based-on-ignorance-always-prove-disappointing/) [Jussi Adler-Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jussi-adler-olsen/) > [I'm not trying to frighten you, but only a fool makes predictions based on ignorance; I am not that sort of fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-m-not-trying-to-frighten-you-but-only-a-fool-makes-predictions/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“What is this worldly life based on? Ignorance (of the Self). The world gives support to good habits and tries to get rid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-this-worldly-life-based-on-ignorance-of-the-self-the-world/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Obedience to public authority ought not to be based either on ignorance or stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/obedience-to-public-authority-ought-not-to-be-based-either-on/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More by Dan Millman > [...when you resist what happens, your mind begins to race; the same thoughts that impinge upon you are actually created by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/when-you-resist-what-happens-your-mind-begins-to-race-the-same/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Life is not suffering; it's just that you will suffer it, rather than enjoy it, until you let go of your mind's attachments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/life-is-not-suffering-it-s-just-that-you-will-suffer-it-rather-than/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Coming to appreciate your worth can, in some cases, dramatically improve your circumstances by changing the choices you make and the actions you take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/coming-to-appreciate-your-worth-can-in-some-cases-dramatically/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Inward spiritual practices such as meditation, breathing techniques and self-analysis generate insights and enhance abilities, but none are so useful as learning to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/inward-spiritual-practices-such-as-meditation-breathing-techniques/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [We are both burdened and blessed by the great responsibility of the will - the power of choice. 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If you have enough of one, you will develop the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/do-you-have-the-courage-for-it-do-you-have-the-love-if-you-have/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [As a peaceful warrior, I would choose when, where and how I would behave. With that commitment, I began to live the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/as-a-peaceful-warrior-i-would-choose-when-where-and-how-i-would/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Life is constantly supporting us and giving us gifts. It's a matter of opening ourselves to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/life-is-constantly-supporting-us-and-giving-us-gifts-it-s-a-matter-of/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“We must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence, to find that enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/we-must-pass-through-solitude-and-difficulty-isolation-and-silence-to/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Words mean little unless you realize the truth of it yourself. And when you do, you'll be free at last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/words-mean-little-unless-you-realize-the-truth-of-it-yourself-and/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“There is no need to search . . . achievement leads nowhere . . . makes no difference at all. 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You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/ships-are-safe-in-harbor-but-that-s-not-what-ships-are-for-so-set/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) [Explore all 231 Dan Millman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) ## More Humour quotes > [“law that stated you didn't advertise any event you hadn't attended, any place you'd never been, or any band you didn't really listen to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhairi-mcfarlane/law-that-stated-you-didn-t-advertise-any-event-you-hadn-t-attended/) [Mhairi McFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mhairi-mcfarlane/) > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/) [Noelle Oxenhandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-oxenhandler/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. 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