--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It remained for the twentieth century to…" description: "\"It remained for the twentieth century to discover that locked within the atom is the energy of the sun itself. For this energy to be released, however..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png" --- # It remained for the twentieth century to discover that… ![“It remained for the twentieth century to discover that locked within the atom is the energy of the sun itself. For this energy to be released, however, the atom must be bombarded from without. So too, locked in every human being is a store of love that partakes of the divine-the imago dei-image of…” quote by Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png) > “It remained for the twentieth century to discover that locked within the atom is the energy of the sun itself. For this energy to be released, however, the atom must be bombarded from without. So too, locked in every human being is a store of love that partakes of the divine-the imago dei-image of God, it is sometimes called. And it too can be activated only through bombardment, in its case love's bombardment” [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings contain a divine love that can only be awakened through external love and connection. **In simple terms:** Love inside us needs outside love to awaken. Key Takeaway Seek and give love to activate inner divinity. Themes spirituality human nature love Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - therapy - community building - personal growth Key Concepts Divine spark Imago Dei activation Questions to Reflect On - How can you provide love that awakens others? - What barriers prevent love's activation? A Different Perspective Love alone may not be sufficient without personal readiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Twentieth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twentieth-century/) ## Related quotes > [“The only power that can effect transformations of the order (of Jesus) is love. It remained for the 20th century to discover that locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-only-power-that-can-effect-transformations-of-the-order-of-jesus/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Each obsession is a knot in your being. Once it is opened, great energy is released](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/each-obsession-is-a-knot-in-your-being-once-it-is-opened-great-energy/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“This is home. This is where we are. This is the place we store our love. You just have to be content to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-d-randle/this-is-home-this-is-where-we-are-this-is-the-place-we-store-our-love/) [Kristen D. Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-d-randle/) > [Don’t miss what the Lord has in store for those who love Him and are willing to let Him be the Master of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/don-t-miss-what-the-lord-has-in-store-for-those-who-love-him-and-are/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I think of the love of God as a great river, pouring through us even as the waters pour through our ravine at floodtime.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/i-think-of-the-love-of-god-as-a-great-river-pouring-through-us-even/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [Today, children are watching more and more television, and are bombarded over and over with images and content that have the potential to dramatically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-murphy/today-children-are-watching-more-and-more-television-and-are/) [Tim Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-murphy/) > [television. It has changed the way that we perceive the world out there, and though we know that - have indeed been bombarded with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/television-it-has-changed-the-way-that-we-perceive-the-world-out/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [You've got to work. You've got to want an audience to sit forward in their chairs sometimes, rather than sit back and be bombarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mendes/you-ve-got-to-work-you-ve-got-to-want-an-audience-to-sit-forward-in/) [Sam Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-mendes/) > [I dream of a peaceful world. Music is the best means I have to work on that dream. Each time I have the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lloyd/i-dream-of-a-peaceful-world-music-is-the-best-means-i-have-to-work-on/) [Charles Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lloyd/) > [ The first time I saw a picture of \[fabled actress\] Ethel Barrymore - she was on Broadway and she was wearing pearls. I thought,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-first-time-i-saw-a-picture-of-fabled-actress-ethel-barrymore-she/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Breaking new factual ground is not what Zeitgeist is about, however. Rather, the video is a powerful and fast-acting dose of agitprop, hawking its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-kinney/breaking-new-factual-ground-is-not-what-zeitgeist-is-about-however/) Jay Kinney > [We live in a culture where we're bombarded with so much noise and so much insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/we-live-in-a-culture-where-we-re-bombarded-with-so-much-noise-and-so/) [Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/) > [In your generation, everybody is constantly bombarded with all kinds of different input from different cultures, and that's a strength, that's a positive thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-your-generation-everybody-is-constantly-bombarded-with-all-kinds/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [In the garden of gentle sanity, May you be bombarded by the coconuts of wakefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/in-the-garden-of-gentle-sanity-may-you-be-bombarded-by-the-coconuts/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [He bombarded me with words, of all things, apparently clueless to the fact that the predawn hours rendered me incapable of coherent thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/he-bombarded-me-with-words-of-all-things-apparently-clueless-to-the/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by Huston Smith > [“The Transcendent was my morning meal, we had the Eternal at lunch, and I ate a slice of the Infinite at dinner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-transcendent-was-my-morning-meal-we-had-the-eternal-at-lunch-and/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The first koan do not have rational answers. They are techniques devised over the millennia for triggering an actual experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-first-koan-do-not-have-rational-answers-they-are-techniques/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [We all carry it within us: supreme strength, the fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy. It is never thwarted, and cannot be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/we-all-carry-it-within-us-supreme-strength-the-fullness-of-wisdom/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [A nation can assume that the addition of the words "under God" to its pledge of allegiance gives evidence that its citizens actually believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/a-nation-can-assume-that-the-addition-of-the-words-under-god-to-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“Some friends accused me of whoring after the Infinite. Well, what better whoredom is there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/some-friends-accused-me-of-whoring-after-the-infinite-well-what/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Imagine a man besottedly in love: he won't waste time speculating whether other women equally merit his affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/imagine-a-man-besottedly-in-love-he-won-t-waste-time-speculating/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“If my opinion that substance requires a true unity were founded only on a definition I had formulated in opposition to common usage, \*then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/if-my-opinion-that-substance-requires-a-true-unity-were-founded-only/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The New Age movement looks like a mixed bag. I see much in it that seems good: It's optimistic; it's enthusiastic; it has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-new-age-movement-looks-like-a-mixed-bag-i-see-much-in-it-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Science can prove nothing about God, because God lies outside its province.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/science-can-prove-nothing-about-god-because-god-lies-outside-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [I had assumed that Bush's seemingly inflexible policy to support Sharon was for political reasons of his getting elected. But as to whether he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/i-had-assumed-that-bush-s-seemingly-inflexible-policy-to-support/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [The Buddha is in me, the Buddha is in you. Live up to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-buddha-is-in-me-the-buddha-is-in-you-live-up-to-it/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“How many planes there are, we do not know. The levels of nature that science discriminates give us no clue, for these all pertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/how-many-planes-there-are-we-do-not-know-the-levels-of-nature-that/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [So always, if we look back, concern for face-to-face morality, and its modern emphasis on justice as well, have historically evolved as religious issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/so-always-if-we-look-back-concern-for-face-to-face-morality-and-its/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [All -isms end up in schisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/all-isms-end-up-in-schisms/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [Most of the book deals with things we already know yet never learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/most-of-the-book-deals-with-things-we-already-know-yet-never-learn/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) [Explore all 167 Huston Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) ## More Atoms quotes > [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/) Giulio Natta > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Traditional nationalism cannot survive the fissioning of the atom. One world or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/traditional-nationalism-cannot-survive-the-fissioning-of-the-atom-one/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanford-wilson/i-am-not-sure-why-but-i-have-been-obsessed-by-the-atom-bomb-ever/) [Lanford Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanford-wilson/) > [History is the short trudge from Adam to atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-the-short-trudge-from-adam-to-atom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The dogma of the impossibility of determining the atomic constitution of substances, which until recently was advocated with such fervor by the most able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-korner/the-dogma-of-the-impossibility-of-determining-the-atomic-constitution/) Wilhelm Korner > [I have never seen what to me seemed an atom of proof that there is a future life. And yet-I am inclined to expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-seen-what-to-me-seemed-an-atom-of-proof-that-there-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/) [Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/) > [Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nature-is-full-of-wonders-every-atom-is-a-standing-miracle-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [ “\[Think\] of an experience from your childhood. Something you remember clearly, something you can see, feel, maybe even smell, as if you were really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-grand/think-of-an-experience-from-your-childhood-something-you-remember/) [Steve Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-grand/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Browse all 852 Atoms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It remained for the twentieth century to discover that locked within the atom is the energy of the sun itself. For this energy to be released, however, the atom must be bombarded from without. So too, locked in every human being is a store of love that partakes of the divine-the imago dei-image of God, it is sometimes called. And it too can be activated only through bombardment, in its case love's bombardment", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Huston Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to-discover-that-locked-within/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atoms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to-discover-that-locked-within/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/huston-smith-2415_atoms_it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to_1893154.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It remained for the twentieth century to discover that locked within the atom is the energy of the sun…” — Huston Smith", "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": "Huston Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It remained for the twentieth century...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to-discover-that-locked-within/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/it-remained-for-the-twentieth-century-to-discover-that-locked-within/#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 } } ] } ```