---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes down to it, the reason that…"
description: "\"When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it says at the end of the day i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg"
---

#  When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction…

![“When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it says at the end of the day is that there is a tomorrow, we do go on, we don't extinguish ourselves and leave the planet to the cockroaches.” quote by J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg)

> “When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it says at the end of the day is that there is a tomorrow, we do go on, we don't extinguish ourselves and leave the planet to the cockroaches.”

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Science fiction persists because it offers hopeful visions of the future, encouraging perseverance and humanity's continuity.

**In simple terms:** Sci‑fi is hopeful about tomorrow.

Key Takeaway

Embrace optimism and imagine better futures.

Themes

hope future resilience humanity imagination

Mood

inspirational forward‑looking

Type

motivational visionary

When to use this quote

- space exploration
- climate action
- technological innovation
- personal goal setting

Key Concepts

optimism narrative power cultural influence

Questions to Reflect On

- How does hope shape your actions?
- What realistic steps can we take toward a better future?

A Different Perspective

Optimism may overlook present challenges and risks.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cockroaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cockroaches/) [Core](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Endures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-endures-1560284/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [Optimistic Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic-genre-1560285/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [The end of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-end-of-the-day/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/)

## Related quotes

> [To my mind, the prose in a non-fiction work that's going to endure has to be of the same quality as the prose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/to-my-mind-the-prose-in-a-non-fiction-work-that-s-going-to-endure-has/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [I think my core values are all about family and just at the end of the day, coming home and knowing that I'm happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/i-think-my-core-values-are-all-about-family-and-just-at-the-end-of/)

[Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/)

> [It always sounds more right to me when it's detuned. When it's right in tune, it's like there's something slightly off. But at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aphex-twin/it-always-sounds-more-right-to-me-when-it-s-detuned-when-it-s-right/)

[Aphex Twin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aphex-twin/)

> [I owned a 1972 Plymouth Valiant that we bought for $125. It was infested with cockroaches and geckos - it was its own little ecosystem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-owned-a-1972-plymouth-valiant-that-we-bought-for-125-it-was/)

[Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/)

> [“I knew that cockroaches could go more than a month without food or water. And they could even survive on wood for food. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/i-knew-that-cockroaches-could-go-more-than-a-month-without-food-or/)

[Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/)

> [A gazelle runs faster than us; cockroaches are remarkably tolerant of radiation; every being has some superiority; in remembering this, be very humble!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-gazelle-runs-faster-than-us-cockroaches-are-remarkably-tolerant-of/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I'm not afraid of cockroaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-m-not-afraid-of-cockroaches/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [You foul, lying, evil little cockroach!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-foul-lying-evil-little-cockroach/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Why is not a rat as good as a rabbit? Why should men eat shrimps and neglect cockroaches?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/why-is-not-a-rat-as-good-as-a-rabbit-why-should-men-eat-shrimps-and/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [I remember as a child of eight being told by a young friend that I had killed Christ. That was news to me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-fleischman/i-remember-as-a-child-of-eight-being-told-by-a-young-friend-that-i/)

[Sid Fleischman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-fleischman/)

> [But if we come back, if German men come back, if British men come back, and Japs, and French, and all the other men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-if-we-come-back-if-german-men-come-back-if-british-men-come-back/)

[J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/)

> [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed that I didn't even deserve a bed to sleep in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-used-to-sleep-on-the-floor-next-to-the-bed-because-i-believed-that/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [There are three things in this world that will survive a nuclear explosion: Twinkies, cockroaches and Dean Ambroses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/there-are-three-things-in-this-world-that-will-survive-a-nuclear/)

[Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/)

> [“Memory in the mind of man can adapt to the worst conditions. I'll give you an example, an analogy of sorts: Each night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/memory-in-the-mind-of-man-can-adapt-to-the-worst-conditions-i-ll-give/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

## More by J. Michael Straczynski

> [“Sometimes the pain they wish to spare is their own because if you can be convinced to set aside your own dreams, they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/sometimes-the-pain-they-wish-to-spare-is-their-own-because-if-you-can/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [A movie is a movie and a book is a book, and they have different rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/a-movie-is-a-movie-and-a-book-is-a-book-and-they-have-different-rules/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [Never follow somebody else's path; it doesn't work the same way twice for anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/never-follow-somebody-else-s-path-it-doesn-t-work-the-same-way-twice/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [“If you're going to have delusions, you might as well go for the really satisfying ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/if-you-re-going-to-have-delusions-you-might-as-well-go-for-the-really/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [I'm sorry, but anyone who thinks the use of an angelic (or seemingly angelic character), whose likes have been written about for, oh, about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/i-m-sorry-but-anyone-who-thinks-the-use-of-an-angelic-or-seemingly/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [I'm a big believer in the idea that while we are the sum of our tears, we are also the product of our choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/i-m-a-big-believer-in-the-idea-that-while-we-are-the-sum-of-our-tears/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [On a certain level, I don't think there is an answer to what the American way is, because it is constantly being re-defined. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/on-a-certain-level-i-don-t-think-there-is-an-answer-to-what-the/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [I always knew that I was going to be a writer. There was no question in my mind about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/i-always-knew-that-i-was-going-to-be-a-writer-there-was-no-question/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [Like everyone else, I am going to die. But the words - the words live on for as long as there are readers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/like-everyone-else-i-am-going-to-die-but-the-words-the-words-live-on/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [I'm delirious with joy. It proves that if you confront the universe with good intentions in your heart, it will reflect that and reward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/i-m-delirious-with-joy-it-proves-that-if-you-confront-the-universe/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/you-know-i-used-to-think-it-was-awful-that-life-was-so-unfair-then-i/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [“We have an obligation to one another, responsibilities and trusts. That does not mean we must be pigeons, that we must be exploited. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/we-have-an-obligation-to-one-another-responsibilities-and-trusts-that/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [Whenever you can bring your chops in as a reporter to unearth a cool story, that's always a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/whenever-you-can-bring-your-chops-in-as-a-reporter-to-unearth-a-cool/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [Everyone in the entertainment business gets crappy contracts when we start out, and into the middle of our careers. It's the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/everyone-in-the-entertainment-business-gets-crappy-contracts-when-we/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

> [When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/when-the-mob-and-the-press-and-the-whole-world-tell-you-to-move-your/)

[J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

[Explore all 161 J. Michael Straczynski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/)

## More Cockroaches quotes

> [“Memory in the mind of man can adapt to the worst conditions. I'll give you an example, an analogy of sorts: Each night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/memory-in-the-mind-of-man-can-adapt-to-the-worst-conditions-i-ll-give/)

[Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/)

> [There are three things in this world that will survive a nuclear explosion: Twinkies, cockroaches and Dean Ambroses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/there-are-three-things-in-this-world-that-will-survive-a-nuclear/)

[Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/)

> [I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed that I didn't even deserve a bed to sleep in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-used-to-sleep-on-the-floor-next-to-the-bed-because-i-believed-that/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [But if we come back, if German men come back, if British men come back, and Japs, and French, and all the other men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-if-we-come-back-if-german-men-come-back-if-british-men-come-back/)

[J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/)

> [I remember as a child of eight being told by a young friend that I had killed Christ. That was news to me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-fleischman/i-remember-as-a-child-of-eight-being-told-by-a-young-friend-that-i/)

[Sid Fleischman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-fleischman/)

> [Why is not a rat as good as a rabbit? Why should men eat shrimps and neglect cockroaches?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/why-is-not-a-rat-as-good-as-a-rabbit-why-should-men-eat-shrimps-and/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [You foul, lying, evil little cockroach!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-foul-lying-evil-little-cockroach/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not afraid of cockroaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-m-not-afraid-of-cockroaches/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [A gazelle runs faster than us; cockroaches are remarkably tolerant of radiation; every being has some superiority; in remembering this, be very humble!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-gazelle-runs-faster-than-us-cockroaches-are-remarkably-tolerant-of/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“I knew that cockroaches could go more than a month without food or water. And they could even survive on wood for food. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/i-knew-that-cockroaches-could-go-more-than-a-month-without-food-or/)

[Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/)

> [I owned a 1972 Plymouth Valiant that we bought for $125. It was infested with cockroaches and geckos - it was its own little ecosystem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-eckhart/i-owned-a-1972-plymouth-valiant-that-we-bought-for-125-it-was/)

[Aaron Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-eckhart/)

> [You cannot disgrace a disgraceful man; you cannot make a shameless man feel ashamed; you cannot make a cockroach a cockroach, because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-cannot-disgrace-a-disgraceful-man-you-cannot-make-a-shameless-man/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [One stupid returned from traveling At the apartment fool cockroaches .. Not lock the door …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wol/one-stupid-returned-from-traveling-at-the-apartment-fool-cockroaches/)

[Lil Wol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wol/)

> [Palms are like cockroaches. They were here long before us, and they'll be here long after us. They're the only things standing after a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-irwin/palms-are-like-cockroaches-they-were-here-long-before-us-and-they-ll/)

[Robert Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-irwin/)

[Browse all 134 Cockroaches quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cockroaches/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it says at the end of the day is that there is a tomorrow, we do go on, we don't extinguish ourselves and leave the planet to the cockroaches.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J. Michael Straczynski"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that-science-fiction-endures-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cockroaches"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that-science-fiction-endures-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fca/j-michael-straczynski-2548_cockroaches_when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that_935815.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic…” — J. Michael Straczynski",
                "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": "J. Michael Straczynski",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When it comes down to it,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that-science-fiction-endures-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/when-it-comes-down-to-it-the-reason-that-science-fiction-endures-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```