--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I call it \"the big picture effect.\"…" description: "\"I call it \"the big picture effect.\" Getting to see earth as a small planet and to see it in that perspective, seeing it in the heavens as a planet as o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg" --- # I call it "the big picture effect." Getting to see earth… ![“I call it "the big picture effect." Getting to see earth as a small planet and to see it in that perspective, seeing it in the heavens as a planet as opposed to being down here among it, most of the people, in fact, I guess all of the people who have had that experience, shift their thinking.” quote by Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg) > “I call it "the big picture effect." Getting to see earth as a small planet and to see it in that perspective, seeing it in the heavens as a planet as opposed to being down here among it, most of the people, in fact, I guess all of the people who have had that experience, shift their thinking.” [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing Earth from space creates a perspective shift, fostering global unity and humility. **In simple terms:** Seeing Earth as a small planet. Key Takeaway Adopt a broader viewpoint to inspire cooperation. Themes global perspective humility environment Mood wonderful humble Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - climate activism - peacebuilding - education curricula Key Concepts cosmic perspective systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does a global view change your priorities? - What actions arise from this perspective? A Different Perspective Perspective shift may be fleeting without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-small-331353/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Perspective Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective-seeing-1333777/) [Planet Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet-perspective-3979169/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing Heavens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-heavens-3979170/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [So looking at the planet from this perspective - to see the Earth and these beautiful land masses and oceans without lines or words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-glover/so-looking-at-the-planet-from-this-perspective-to-see-the-earth-and/) [Victor J. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-glover/) > [There was a sky somewhere above the tops of the buildings, with stars and a moon and all the things there are in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/there-was-a-sky-somewhere-above-the-tops-of-the-buildings-with-stars/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [It is important to have a perspective then only through seeing the world is it possible to transcend ideas such as the Flyers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/it-is-important-to-have-a-perspective-then-only-through-seeing-the/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [There is only a perspective seeing, only a perspective 'knowing'; and the more affects we allow to speak about one thing, the more eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/there-is-only-a-perspective-seeing-only-a-perspective-knowing-and-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The earth has become small, and on it hops the last man, who makes everything small. His race is as ineradicable as the flea;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-earth-has-become-small-and-on-it-hops-the-last-man-who-makes/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I call those men worldly, earthly, or coarse, whose hearts and minds are wholly fixed on this earth, that small part of the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-call-those-men-worldly-earthly-or-coarse-whose-hearts-and-minds-are/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The first view of the Earth is magical. It is a very overpowering realization that the Earth is so small. It affected me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalpana-chawla/the-first-view-of-the-earth-is-magical-it-is-a-very-overpowering/) [Kalpana Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalpana-chawla/) > [The earth is too small a star and we too brief a visitor upon it for anything to matter more than the struggle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/the-earth-is-too-small-a-star-and-we-too-brief-a-visitor-upon-it-for/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Our earth is but a small star in a great universe. Yet of it we can make, if we choose, a planet unvexxed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/our-earth-is-but-a-small-star-in-a-great-universe-yet-of-it-we-can/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-earth-is-a-very-small-stage-in-a-vast-cosmic-arena-think-of-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The earth has become small, and on it hops the last man, who makes everything small. His race can no more be exterminated than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-earth-has-become-small-and-on-it-hops-the-last-man-who-makes-2/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Earth is a small town with many neighborhoods in a very big universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/earth-is-a-small-town-with-many-neighborhoods-in-a-very-big-universe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And then, the Earth being small, mankind will migrate into space, and will cross the airless Saharas which separate planet from planet and sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-winwood-reade/and-then-the-earth-being-small-mankind-will-migrate-into-space-and/) [William Winwood Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-winwood-reade/) > [The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-earth-is-a-very-small-stage-in-a-vast-cosmic-arena/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-leonov/the-earth-was-small-light-blue-and-so-touchingly-alone-our-home-that/) [Alexey Leonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-leonov/) ## More by Edgar Mitchell > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Our success and our understanding is that all beings are right inside, the deeper we go inside ourselves. There's a saying that Unity uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/our-success-and-our-understanding-is-that-all-beings-are-right-inside/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [To kill a citizen of our own country is evil, but to kill a citizen of another country is 'good.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/to-kill-a-citizen-of-our-own-country-is-evil-but-to-kill-a-citizen-of/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [When I learned that aliens really do exist, I wasn't too surprised. But what did shock me when I started investigating extra-terrestrial reports a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/when-i-learned-that-aliens-really-do-exist-i-wasn-t-too-surprised-but/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I believe we have these capabilities. It doesn't mean that we will use them. Our future is not assured here. It's not clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-believe-we-have-these-capabilities-it-doesn-t-mean-that-we-will-use/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [What we're starting to see is a quantum biology, it being applied in biology and cosmology and a host of other sciences, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/what-we-re-starting-to-see-is-a-quantum-biology-it-being-applied-in/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [The Big Bang has gone away, but as far as Super String, that is suspicious for me. It all starts out with the notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/the-big-bang-has-gone-away-but-as-far-as-super-string-that-is/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Unfortunately, religions have become a part of the problem instead of part of the solution. We have fought our wars in the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/unfortunately-religions-have-become-a-part-of-the-problem-instead-of/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Another way to think of this is there are now 6.8 billion people on this planet, and half of them weren't even born when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/another-way-to-think-of-this-is-there-are-now-6-8-billion-people-on/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [We all know that UFOs are real. All we need to ask is where do they come from, and what do they want?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-all-know-that-ufos-are-real-all-we-need-to-ask-is-where-do-they/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Undoubtedly we will go on to Mars in due course, provided we don't blow ourselves up with our stupidities in the short run. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/undoubtedly-we-will-go-on-to-mars-in-due-course-provided-we-don-t/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [The quantum hologram is a mechanism to explain this concept of the ancients of the Akashic Records. It also explains Rupert Sheldrake's work among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/the-quantum-hologram-is-a-mechanism-to-explain-this-concept-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Our mission on Apollo 14 was to be the first to do science on the moon, so we had to be careful about getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/our-mission-on-apollo-14-was-to-be-the-first-to-do-science-on-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) [Explore all 100 Edgar Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) ## More Big picture quotes > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [“Everything's a painting, anyway," Fawn said. "That's what I think. We live inside a giant painting, only we can't see who's holding the paintbrush.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-christo/everything-s-a-painting-anyway-fawn-said-that-s-what-i-think-we-live/) [Rose Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-christo/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [My mom taught me the power of love. I learned to focus on the long-term big picture from my father. His sense of humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/my-mom-taught-me-the-power-of-love-i-learned-to-focus-on-the-long/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) > [Sometimes we find ourselves stumbling over obstacles we face today but always see the big picture and keep moving forward. Have faith - someday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/sometimes-we-find-ourselves-stumbling-over-obstacles-we-face-today/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [I think that the fact of the matter is that metal isn't really part of the big picture of the gay, lesbian, transgender music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/i-think-that-the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-metal-isn-t-really-part/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [I am a bigger-picture manager because I've lived through something that's a big picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/i-am-a-bigger-picture-manager-because-i-ve-lived-through-something/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“I suppose that was an example of close attention to detail that is common to writers and artists. It is imperative, whether consciously or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-winder/i-suppose-that-was-an-example-of-close-attention-to-detail-that-is/) [Elizabeth Winder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-winder/) > [“When she made her way to the big picture window that framed the dining room table she froze. She stopped breathing. The anger was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-she-made-her-way-to-the-big-picture-window-that-framed-the/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Everyone is against micro managing but macro managing means you're working at the big picture but don't know the details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/everyone-is-against-micro-managing-but-macro-managing-means-you-re/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [It is important to ask yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and what purpose it serves in the big picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/it-is-important-to-ask-yourself-why-you-re-doing-what-you-re-doing/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [To be a champion, I think you have to see the big picture. It's not about winning and losing; it's about every day hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/to-be-a-champion-i-think-you-have-to-see-the-big-picture-it-s-not/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [“I would love to tell you that being a content manager is easy. Straightforward. That you will be able to focus on what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-busche/i-would-love-to-tell-you-that-being-a-content-manager-is-easy/) [Laura Busche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-busche/) [Browse all 423 Big picture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I call it \"the big picture effect.\" Getting to see earth as a small planet and to see it in that perspective, seeing it in the heavens as a planet as opposed to being down here among it, most of the people, in fact, I guess all of the people who have had that experience, shift their thinking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edgar Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting-to-see-earth-as-a-small/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big picture" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting-to-see-earth-as-a-small/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/edgar-mitchell-6104_big-picture_i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting_2878846.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I call it \"the big picture effect.\" Getting to see earth as a small planet and to see it in that…” — Edgar Mitchell", "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": "Edgar Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I call it \"the big picture...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting-to-see-earth-as-a-small/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-call-it-the-big-picture-effect-getting-to-see-earth-as-a-small/#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 } } ] } ```