--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can conceive of no nightmare so…" description: "\"I can conceive of no nightmare so terrifying as establishing communication with a so-called superior (or, if you wish, advanced) technology in outer sp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png" --- # I can conceive of no nightmare so terrifying as… ![“I can conceive of no nightmare so terrifying as establishing communication with a so-called superior (or, if you wish, advanced) technology in outer space.” quote by George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png) > “I can conceive of no nightmare so terrifying as establishing communication with a so-called superior (or, if you wish, advanced) technology in outer space.” [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communicating with advanced extraterrestrial technology could be terrifying because it may reveal our insignificance or expose us to unknown risks. **In simple terms:** Contact with superior alien tech is frightening. Key Takeaway Approach alien contact with caution and humility. Themes science existential risk communication extraterrestrials technology Mood anxious thoughtful speculative Type cautionary speculative When to use this quote - space missions - SETI research - international policy - public education Key Concepts unknown intelligence risk assessment humility Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards should be in place for extraterrestrial contact? - How might humanity prepare ethically for such encounters? A Different Perspective Assumes alien motives are hostile or incomprehensible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advanced technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advanced-technology/) [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Communication Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication-called-4947766/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Outer space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-space/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Superiors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superiors/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying/) [Terrifying Establishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying-establishing-4947765/) [Ufo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufo/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“To think that there is no life outside of the world is actually an extremely sick thought, a disease! 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In many ways, that is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-ve-lost-an-edge-that-we-used-to-have-in-scientific-innovation/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [In Hollywood, primitive magical thinking exists side by side with the most advanced technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hortense-powdermaker/in-hollywood-primitive-magical-thinking-exists-side-by-side-with-the/) [Hortense Powdermaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hortense-powdermaker/) > [Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a completely ad hoc plot device.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-langford/any-sufficiently-advanced-technology-is-indistinguishable-from-a/) [David Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-langford/) > [We will only keep people from fleeing the countryside into urban favelas, villas miseries, shantytowns and squatter villages when the productivity gap is closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/we-will-only-keep-people-from-fleeing-the-countryside-into-urban/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [Clear content, simple navigation and answers to customer questions have the biggest impact on business value. Advanced technology matters much less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/clear-content-simple-navigation-and-answers-to-customer-questions/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) ## More by George Wald > [Civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/civilization-will-end-within-15-or-30-years-unless-immediate-action/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [So-called defense now absorbs sixty per cent of the national budget, and about twelve per cent of the Gross National Product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/so-called-defense-now-absorbs-sixty-per-cent-of-the-national-budget/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I have lived much of my life among molecules. They are good company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-have-lived-much-of-my-life-among-molecules-they-are-good-company/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Evolution advances, not by a priori design, but by the selection of what works best out of whatever choices offer. 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We were committing war crimes in World War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/we-ve-committed-many-war-crimes-in-vietnam-but-i-ll-tell-you/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Science goes from question to question; big questions, and little, tentative answers. The questions as they age grow ever broader, the answers are seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/science-goes-from-question-to-question-big-questions-and-little/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [There's life all over this universe, but the only life in the solar system is on earth, and in the whole universe we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-s-life-all-over-this-universe-but-the-only-life-in-the-solar/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I think I know what is bothering the students. I think that what we are up against is a generation that is by no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-think-i-know-what-is-bothering-the-students-i-think-that-what-we/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [A physicist is an atom's way of knowing about atoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/a-physicist-is-an-atom-s-way-of-knowing-about-atoms/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose: Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God… There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-are-only-two-possible-explanations-as-to-how-life-arose/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) [Explore all 72 George Wald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) ## More Advanced technology quotes > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [Clear content, simple navigation and answers to customer questions have the biggest impact on business value. 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In many ways, that is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-ve-lost-an-edge-that-we-used-to-have-in-scientific-innovation/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Advanced technology changes the way we work and the skills we need, but it also boosts productivity and creates new jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-dehaze/advanced-technology-changes-the-way-we-work-and-the-skills-we-need/) [Alain Dehaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-dehaze/) > [We can just assume they have much more and powerful, more advanced technology, all the new computers, everything could be much more easier and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-can-just-assume-they-have-much-more-and-powerful-more-advanced/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In China, we intend to acquire advanced technology, science and management skills to serve our socialist production. And these things as such have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/in-china-we-intend-to-acquire-advanced-technology-science-and/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [Advanced technology does not always promise a more intelligent civilization. On the contrary, the more the common people rely on technology to do their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/advanced-technology-does-not-always-promise-a-more-intelligent/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I have reviewed literally hundreds of dotcoms in my drive to bring Boomer Esiason Foundation onto the Internet, and have selected ClickThings as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boomer-esiason/i-have-reviewed-literally-hundreds-of-dotcoms-in-my-drive-to-bring/) [Boomer Esiason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boomer-esiason/) > [There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/there-are-some-who-question-the-relevance-of-space-activities-in-a/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [Hundreds of years ago, Indian artists created visual images of dancing Shivas in a beautiful series of bronzes. In our time, physicists have used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/hundreds-of-years-ago-indian-artists-created-visual-images-of-dancing/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/when-a-distinguished-but-elderly-scientist-states-that-something-is/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [I do go back and listen to my songs. I'm biting my fingernails the whole way through, but I do listen. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrae-crouch/i-do-go-back-and-listen-to-my-songs-i-m-biting-my-fingernails-the/) [Andrae Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrae-crouch/) [Browse all 43 Advanced technology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advanced-technology/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can conceive of no nightmare so terrifying as establishing communication with a so-called superior (or, if you wish, advanced) technology in outer space.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Wald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrifying-as-establishing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advanced technology" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrifying-as-establishing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf9/george-wald-9544_advanced-technology_i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrif_1406999.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can conceive of no nightmare so terrifying as establishing communication with a so-called superior (or, if…” — George Wald", "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": "George Wald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can conceive of no nightmare...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrifying-as-establishing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-can-conceive-of-no-nightmare-so-terrifying-as-establishing/#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 } } ] } ```