--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If an alien visitor were to hover a few…" description: "\"If an alien visitor were to hover a few hundred yards above the planet, it could be forgiven for thinking that cars were the dominant life form, and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png" --- # If an alien visitor were to hover a few hundred yards… ![“If an alien visitor were to hover a few hundred yards above the planet, it could be forgiven for thinking that cars were the dominant life form, and that human beings were a kind of ambulatory fuel cell: injected when the car wished to move off, and ejected when they were spent.” quote by Heathcote Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png) > “If an alien visitor were to hover a few hundred yards above the planet, it could be forgiven for thinking that cars were the dominant life form, and that human beings were a kind of ambulatory fuel cell: injected when the car wished to move off, and ejected when they were spent.” Heathcote Williams ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cars dominate modern landscapes, making humans seem like expendable energy sources for vehicles. **In simple terms:** Cars seem like life forms, humans like fuel. Key Takeaway Recognize human value beyond machines. Themes technology environment humanity transportation Mood critical reflective Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - urban planning - environmental advocacy - public policy - transportation design Key Concepts anthropocentrism industrialization existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect our relationship with technology? - What alternatives respect both humans and machines? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate and overlook benefits of automotive technology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Fuel cells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fuel-cells/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The fuel cell is just a fundamentally inferior way of delivering electrical energy to an electric motor than batteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-fuel-cell-is-just-a-fundamentally-inferior-way-of-delivering/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [ With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these \[hydrogen fuel cell\] cars from laboratory to showroom, so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/with-a-new-national-commitment-our-scientists-and-engineers-will/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Fuel cell vehicles run on clean-burning hydrogen and are three times more efficient than the traditional combustible engine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-wynn/fuel-cell-vehicles-run-on-clean-burning-hydrogen-and-are-three-times/) [Albert Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-wynn/) > [I had long ago learned that when you are the giant, alien visitor to a remote and foreign culture it is sort of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-had-long-ago-learned-that-when-you-are-the-giant-alien-visitor-to-a/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [In addition to this, they already have a fuel cell car on the road in Japan. It is subsidized from within the corporation because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/in-addition-to-this-they-already-have-a-fuel-cell-car-on-the-road-in/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [Toyota was the first to put a commercial fuel cell powered car on the road, and I have no doubt that Toyota will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/toyota-was-the-first-to-put-a-commercial-fuel-cell-powered-car-on-the/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [We must move away from our dependency on fossil fuels, and I am glad that GM has invested over $1 billion in hydrogen fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-wynn/we-must-move-away-from-our-dependency-on-fossil-fuels-and-i-am-glad/) [Albert Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-wynn/) > [They're trying to make fuel cells a reality. They want to bring the hydrogen economy to the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-davis/they-re-trying-to-make-fuel-cells-a-reality-they-want-to-bring-the/) [Thomas Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-davis/) > [We presently have the technology ... fuel cells, solar cells, hydrogen ... the opportunities are amazing for clean energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/we-presently-have-the-technology-fuel-cells-solar-cells-hydrogen-the/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [It is worth noting that virtually every alternative energy source we have - solar, wind, nuclear, and battery and fuel cell technologies for storage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/it-is-worth-noting-that-virtually-every-alternative-energy-source-we/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [Fuel cells create a better automobile that's 50 percent more energy-efficient overall and sustainable from energy and safety perspectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-burns/fuel-cells-create-a-better-automobile-that-s-50-percent-more-energy/) Larry Burns > [Whether fuel cell system development in central Oregon, wind power generation along the Columbia Gorge, or geothermal energy in southern Oregon, investing in new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-walden/whether-fuel-cell-system-development-in-central-oregon-wind-power/) [Greg Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-walden/) > [“The good news is that advances in batteries, fuel cells, lightweight cars, and charging networks are making electric vehicles look more promising than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-good-news-is-that-advances-in-batteries-fuel-cells-lightweight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [GM is pursuing gasoline-savings solutions on many fronts on the way to our ultimate vision of hydrogen fuel cell-powered transportation. E85 ethanol burns cleaner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lowery/gm-is-pursuing-gasoline-savings-solutions-on-many-fronts-on-the-way/) [Joseph Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lowery/) > [It doesn't matter whether you can or cannot achieve high temperature superconductivity or fuel cells, they will always be on the list because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fleischmann/it-doesn-t-matter-whether-you-can-or-cannot-achieve-high-temperature/) [Martin Fleischmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fleischmann/) ## More by Heathcote Williams > [Reason is emotion for the sexless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heathcote-williams/reason-is-emotion-for-the-sexless/) Heathcote Williams > [You come out of a woman and you spend the rest of your life trying to get back inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heathcote-williams/you-come-out-of-a-woman-and-you-spend-the-rest-of-your-life-trying-to/) Heathcote Williams Explore all 3 Heathcote Williams quotes ## More Aliens quotes > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/the-respect-for-human-rights-essential-if-we-are-to-use-technology/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) Twe Stephens > [Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/robin-williams-was-an-airman-a-doctor-a-genie-a-nanny-a-president-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Even the Supreme Court, back when it used to makes sense, the Supreme Court has never ruled that a baby born to illegal aliens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-the-supreme-court-back-when-it-used-to-makes-sense-the-supreme/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Some pundits have proposed that the aliens have come here to breed with us. Apparently, too much bike riding or something similar has rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/some-pundits-have-proposed-that-the-aliens-have-come-here-to-breed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) [Browse all 1,329 Aliens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If an alien visitor were to hover a few hundred yards above the planet, it could be forgiven for thinking that cars were the dominant life form, and that human beings were a kind of ambulatory fuel cell: injected when the car wished to move off, and ejected when they were spent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heathcote Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heathcote-williams/if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few-hundred-yards-above-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aliens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heathcote-williams/if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few-hundred-yards-above-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b3/heathcote-williams-76604_aliens_if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few_503876.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If an alien visitor were to hover a few hundred yards above the planet, it could be forgiven for thinking…” — Heathcote Williams", "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": "Heathcote Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heathcote-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If an alien visitor were to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heathcote-williams/if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few-hundred-yards-above-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heathcote-williams/if-an-alien-visitor-were-to-hover-a-few-hundred-yards-above-the/#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 } } ] } ```