---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have not been created out of nothing…"
description: "\"“We have not been created out of nothing, but from primeval \"ur-matter,\" atoms formed billions of years ago that have for a brief while been gathered i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg"
---

#  We have not been created out of nothing, but from primeval…

![“We have not been created out of nothing, but from primeval &quot;ur-matter,&quot; atoms formed billions of years ago that have for a brief while been gathered into collections that think they are us.” quote by Frank Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg)

> ““We have not been created out of nothing, but from primeval "ur-matter," atoms formed billions of years ago that have for a brief while been gathered into collections that think they are us.””

[Frank Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-close/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human consciousness emerges from matter, not from nothing, reflecting a material origin.

**In simple terms:** Matter creates mind.

Key Takeaway

Recognize physical basis of consciousness.

Themes

science philosophy materialism

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

academic philosophical

When to use this quote

- academic lectures
- public talks
- educational content

Key Concepts

cosmology neuroscience

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines consciousness?
- How does material origin affect meaning?

A Different Perspective

Philosophical debates persist.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Atoms Formed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms-formed-3764003/) [Billions Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billions-years/) [Collections Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collections-think-3764005/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-atoms-3764004/) [Philosphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosphy/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/)

## Related quotes

> [The mind of man has perplexed itself with many hard questions. Is space infinite, and in what sense? Is the material world infinite in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-mind-of-man-has-perplexed-itself-with-many-hard-questions-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ If the atoms in \[a\] decimetre cube of lead were all put into a chain side by side the same distance apart as they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-william-aston/if-the-atoms-in-a-decimetre-cube-of-lead-were-all-put-into-a-chain/)

[Francis William Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-william-aston/)

> [“In the long run one gets used to anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/in-the-long-run-one-gets-used-to-anything/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“ What is a woman's place in this modern world? Jasnah Kholin's words read. I rebel against this question, though so many of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/what-is-a-woman-s-place-in-this-modern-world-jasnah-kholin-s-words/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [“Pretend you are a foolish to the tyrant – because if he realizes you are a genius, he might use you to harm others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-gentlemen/pretend-you-are-a-foolish-to-the-tyrant-because-if-he-realizes-you/)

[A Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-gentlemen/)

> [“Ability does catches my attention, but its a politeness in the person that I remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/ability-does-catches-my-attention-but-its-a-politeness-in-the-person/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [“Color is the taste buds of perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-mcintyre/color-is-the-taste-buds-of-perception/)

[Zephyr McIntyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-mcintyre/)

> [“Life is a game that the universe plays with itself. Pick whatever winning conditions you like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-whelon/life-is-a-game-that-the-universe-plays-with-itself-pick-whatever/)

[Chuck Whelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-whelon/)

> [“Time changes from sleep in moments to sleep of moments”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-bhatt/time-changes-from-sleep-in-moments-to-sleep-of-moments/)

[Anurag Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-bhatt/)

> [“Needs are stronger than liking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravindra-shukla/needs-are-stronger-than-liking/)

[Ravindra Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravindra-shukla/)

> [“Pain eventually leads to freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minhal-mehdi/pain-eventually-leads-to-freedom/)

[Minhal Mehdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minhal-mehdi/)

> [“There exists a line within every man, a line that frightens even us. When an enemy comes to our very doorstep to endanger wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/braith-maxwell/there-exists-a-line-within-every-man-a-line-that-frightens-even-us/)

[Braith Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/braith-maxwell/)

> [“The past may show the right way to behave if you live in the past, Stil, but circumstances change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-past-may-show-the-right-way-to-behave-if-you-live-in-the-past/)

[Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/)

> [I now suspect that just as a deer herd lives in mortal fear of its wolves, so does a mountain live in mortal fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-now-suspect-that-just-as-a-deer-herd-lives-in-mortal-fear-of-its/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Some days I like to wander to old and warn our places, forests ripped apart by man and streams that carry stagnant water where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/some-days-i-like-to-wander-to-old-and-warn-our-places-forests-ripped/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

## More by Frank Close

> [“We are the lucky ones for we shall die, as there is an infinite number of possible forms of DNA all but a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-close/we-are-the-lucky-ones-for-we-shall-die-as-there-is-an-infinite-number/)

[Frank Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-close/)

[Explore all 2 Frank Close quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-close/)

## More Matter quotes

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [No matter what I do I'll always be stuck on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-stalin/no-matter-what-i-do-i-ll-always-be-stuck-on-you/)

[J Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-stalin/)

> [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/)

[Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/)

> [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/)

[Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/)

> [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/)

[John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/)

> [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/)

[Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/)

[Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/)

[Browse all 23,868 Matter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We have not been created out of nothing, but from primeval \"ur-matter,\" atoms formed billions of years ago that have for a brief while been gathered into collections that think they are us.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Frank Close"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-close/we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing-but-from-primeval-ur-matter/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Matter"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-close/we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing-but-from-primeval-ur-matter/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/415/frank-close-96750_matter_we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing_425633.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have not been created out of nothing, but from primeval \"ur-matter,\" atoms formed billions of years ago…” — Frank Close",
                "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": "Frank Close",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-close/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We have not been created out...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-close/we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing-but-from-primeval-ur-matter/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-close/we-have-not-been-created-out-of-nothing-but-from-primeval-ur-matter/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
