--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings can tolerate an immortal…" description: "\"“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being since th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/isaac-asimov-309_computers_human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-ro_59346.jpg" --- # Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it… ![“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being since their own mortality is endurable only so long as it is universal.” quote by Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/isaac-asimov-309_computers_human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-ro_59346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/isaac-asimov-309_computers_human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-ro_59346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/isaac-asimov-309_computers_human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-ro_59346.jpg) > ““Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being since their own mortality is endurable only so long as it is universal.”” [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights a paradox: people accept endless machines but find eternal humans unsettling because mortality gives life meaning when it is shared universally. **In simple terms:** Immortality is tolerable for machines, not for humans. Key Takeaway Shared mortality gives life its urgency. Themes mortality immortality human nature technology existentialism meaning Mood thoughtful haunting reflective Type philosophical speculative cautionary When to use this quote - philosophical debate - science‑fiction storytelling - ethical AI design - cultural analysis - personal reflection Key Concepts acceptance of machines fear of eternal life universality of death psychological impact Practical Applications - exploring AI ethics - crafting sci‑fi narratives Questions to Reflect On - How does the prospect of immortal AI change our values? - What would change if humans could live forever? A Different Perspective Some argue that immortal beings could still find purpose through growth and relationships, challenging the notion that only shared mortality gives meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings Tolerate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-tolerate-814991/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Immortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal/) [Immortal Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-human-814990/) [Immortal Robot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-robot-814989/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Tolerate Immortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerate-immortal-814988/) ## Related quotes > [“Henrietta’s were different: they reproduced an entire generation every twenty-four hours, and they never stopped. 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But once these barriers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-de-chirico/to-become-truly-immortal-a-work-of-art-must-escape-all-human-limits/) [Giorgio de Chirico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-de-chirico/) > [Immortals are, by definition, immortal. End of story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/immortals-are-by-definition-immortal-end-of-story/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“I'm immortal. You consider the future because one day you'll die. I don't have that uncertainty." - Kiaran”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-m-immortal-you-consider-the-future-because-one-day-you-ll-die-i-don/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“You may choose to believe or not, but the fact is that immortal means immortal. Can you imagine that for a moment, never dying?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/you-may-choose-to-believe-or-not-but-the-fact-is-that-immortal-means/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [We must be laid like a brand in the fire ... if we would gain immortal youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/we-must-be-laid-like-a-brand-in-the-fire-if-we-would-gain-immortal/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [“Is life much too long for an immortal?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/is-life-much-too-long-for-an-immortal/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I believe in the immortality of the soul because I have within me immortal longings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-believe-in-the-immortality-of-the-soul-because-i-have-within-me/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“What could be worse than being immortal? And still having to behave by the rules?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rameau/what-could-be-worse-than-being-immortal-and-still-having-to-behave-by/) [Rameau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rameau/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“We who are immortal, we are chained to this life by a chain of gold, and we dare not sever it for fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-who-are-immortal-we-are-chained-to-this-life-by-a-chain-of-gold/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I don't think anything you've written is immortal as yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-young/i-don-t-think-anything-you-ve-written-is-immortal-as-yet/) [Terence Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-young/) > [“What is the most amazing thing about the world? 'Every day creatures die, yet the rest live as if immortal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/what-is-the-most-amazing-thing-about-the-world-every-day-creatures/) [Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/) ## More by Isaac Asimov > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You'd better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-the-universe-is-not-quite-as-you-thought-it-was-you-d-better/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. 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If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“temperatura constante de mais ou menos 21 graus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/temperatura-constante-de-mais-ou-menos-21-graus/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. \[The Second Law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-robot-must-obey-the-orders-given-it-by-human-beings-except-where/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Married life had taught him the futility of arguing with a female in a dark-brown mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/married-life-had-taught-him-the-futility-of-arguing-with-a-female-in/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) [Explore all 671 Isaac Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. 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