--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew that we counted little in…" description: "\"“I knew that we counted little in comparison with the universe, I knew that we were nothing; but to be so immeasurably nothing seems in some way both t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/erich-fromm-367_quote_i-knew-that-we-counted-little-in-compari_1363976.jpg" --- # I knew that we counted little in comparison with the… ![“I knew that we counted little in comparison with the universe, I knew that we were nothing; but to be so immeasurably nothing seems in some way both to overwhelm and at the same time to reassure. Those figures, those dimensions beyond the range of human thought, are utterly overpowering. Is there…” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/erich-fromm-367_quote_i-knew-that-we-counted-little-in-compari_1363976.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/erich-fromm-367_quote_i-knew-that-we-counted-little-in-compari_1363976.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aba/erich-fromm-367_quote_i-knew-that-we-counted-little-in-compari_1363976.jpg) > ““I knew that we counted little in comparison with the universe, I knew that we were nothing; but to be so immeasurably nothing seems in some way both to overwhelm and at the same time to reassure. Those figures, those dimensions beyond the range of human thought, are utterly overpowering. Is there anything whatsoever to which we can cling? Amid that chaos of illusions into which we are cast headlong, there is one thing that stands out as true, and that is—love. All the rest is nothingness, an empty void. We peer down into a huge dark abyss. And we are afraid.”54”” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human insignificance in the vast universe can be overwhelming, yet love provides a grounding truth amid existential dread. **In simple terms:** Love is a comforting truth in a chaotic universe. Key Takeaway Seek love as an anchor in uncertainty. Themes existentialism love meaninglessness Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - philosophical contemplation - spiritual searching Key Concepts philosophy psychology human condition Questions to Reflect On - How does love help you face existential fear? - Can love truly counteract feelings of nothingness? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize the power of love for everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nothingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothingness/) ## Related quotes > [I thought how utterly we have forsaken the Earth, in the sense of excluding it from our thoughts. There are but few who consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/i-thought-how-utterly-we-have-forsaken-the-earth-in-the-sense-of/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [“Suddenly, it occurred to me that my feelings towards the little man were distinctly maternal. Good God, I thought, how utterly revolting, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-r-king/suddenly-it-occurred-to-me-that-my-feelings-towards-the-little-man/) [Laurie R. 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Not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/there-comes-a-time-when-the-blankness-of-the-future-is-just-so/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Real Void is in the space yet unaffected by the made “space.” Although it is nothingness, the void provides volume to the Being to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/real-void-is-in-the-space-yet-unaffected-by-the-made-space-although/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“I was introduced to the void by the rebuffed nothingness. 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But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [“This book is written in a barren period of loss with an attempt to move forward towards substance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phindiwe-nkosi/this-book-is-written-in-a-barren-period-of-loss-with-an-attempt-to/) [Phindiwe Nkosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phindiwe-nkosi/) > [“ Programs has a temporary results leading to nothingness, and the Gospel the brings the result of Eternal life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommie-scott/programs-has-a-temporary-results-leading-to-nothingness-and-the/) Tommie Scott ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. 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Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/) [Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. 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