Business Quote by H G Wells
““It is curious to recall some of the mental habits of those departed days. At most terrestrial men fancied there might be other men upon Mars, perhaps inferior to themselves and ready to welcome a missionary enterprise. Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us. And early in the twentieth century came the great disillusionment.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The War of the Worlds, H. G. Wells, 1898
The quote reflects on humanity’s early 19th‑century optimism about alien life, then contrasts it with a later, colder, more hostile view of Earth by superior extraterrestrials, leading to disillusionment.
In simple terms: Early optimism about aliens turned to fear of superior, indifferent beings.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question assumptions about unknown others.
Themes
science fiction
hubism
humanity
disillusionment
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
speculative
When to use this quote
- space exploration
- first contact scenarios
- policy planning for extraterrestrial encounters
Key Concepts
anthropocentrism
cosmic perspective
existential risk
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do we make about unknown intelligences?
- How might humility change our approach to the cosmos?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may exaggerate fear; not all alien life would be hostile.
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