--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man has always seen himself the peak of…" description: "\"Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part of the universe that thinks. The purpose for it all. It's no doubt a gratifying view, but th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg" --- # Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part… ![“Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part of the universe that thinks. The purpose for it all. It's no doubt a gratifying view, but the universe may have a different opinion.” quote by Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg) > “Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part of the universe that thinks. The purpose for it all. It's no doubt a gratifying view, but the universe may have a different opinion.” [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans view themselves as the universe’s conscious pinnacle, but that perspective may be arrogant. **In simple terms:** Humans think they’re the smartest part of the universe. Key Takeaway Question our assumptions about humanity’s place. Themes anthropocentrism humility cosmic perspective Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - scientific research - space exploration - environmental policy - education - public discourse Key Concepts philosophy existentialism ego Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing ourselves as central affect our decisions? - What evidence challenges human exceptionalism? A Different Perspective Humans may still be central in many practical contexts despite cosmic humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Different opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-opinions/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [There have been many times in my life where I got opportunities that I never thought would be the things that I needed, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/there-have-been-many-times-in-my-life-where-i-got-opportunities-that/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [“...when we move out of faith into the act ofJ creation, the universe is able to advance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/when-we-move-out-of-faith-into-the-act-ofj-creation-the-universe-is/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [She has to lose her pre-Copernican view of a universe revolving around herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/she-has-to-lose-her-pre-copernican-view-of-a-universe-revolving/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [If we view the universe as other than what we are, we are everything we don't perceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-we-view-the-universe-as-other-than-what-we-are-we-are-everything/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“But there are some people, nevertheless—and I am one of them—who think that the most practical and important thing about a man is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/but-there-are-some-people-nevertheless-and-i-am-one-of-them-who-think/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [It is indeed possible to change your view of the universe from indifferent to friendly. I have helped thousands of persons make this transition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/it-is-indeed-possible-to-change-your-view-of-the-universe-from/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [How novel and original must be each new mans view of the universe - for though the world is so old - and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/how-novel-and-original-must-be-each-new-mans-view-of-the-universe-for-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I do not value any view of the universe into which man and the institutions of man enter very largely and absorb much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-do-not-value-any-view-of-the-universe-into-which-man-and-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Only through art can we get outside of ourselves and know another's view of the universe which is not the same as ours and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/only-through-art-can-we-get-outside-of-ourselves-and-know-another-s/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“When one is standing on top of the world, the vista becomes terribly frightening the moment one realizes the view is of the universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-c-estrada/when-one-is-standing-on-top-of-the-world-the-vista-becomes-terribly/) [Alejandro C. Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-c-estrada/) > [Some people take the view that the universe is simply there, and it runs along - it's a bit as though it just sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/some-people-take-the-view-that-the-universe-is-simply-there-and-it/) [Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/) > [“During our brief stay on planet Earth, we owe ourselves and our descendants the opportunity to explore - in part because it's fun to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/during-our-brief-stay-on-planet-earth-we-owe-ourselves-and-our/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Our children may save us if they are taught to care properly for the planet; but if not, it may be back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/our-children-may-save-us-if-they-are-taught-to-care-properly-for-the/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [It appears that all that can be, is. The Creator's hand does not appear to have been opened in order to give existence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-louis-leclerc-comte-de-buffon/it-appears-that-all-that-can-be-is-the-creator-s-hand-does-not-appear/) [Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-louis-leclerc-comte-de-buffon/) > [Hence, at the moment of the creation of the universe, God could also have activated evolution, with full knowledge of how it would turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/hence-at-the-moment-of-the-creation-of-the-universe-god-could-also/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Jack McDevitt > [The queen of virtues is the recognition of one's own flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/the-queen-of-virtues-is-the-recognition-of-one-s-own-flaws/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Tides are like politics. They come and go with a great deal of fuss and noise, but inevitably they leave the beach just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/tides-are-like-politics-they-come-and-go-with-a-great-deal-of-fuss/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Talking with most people usually involves a search for truth. Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/talking-with-most-people-usually-involves-a-search-for-truth-talking/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [The real problem has to do with the inability by people to admit that a position they've held a long time might be wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/the-real-problem-has-to-do-with-the-inability-by-people-to-admit-that/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Lies hold civilization together. If people ever seriously begin telling each other what they really think, there'd be no peace. Good-bye to tact. Good-bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/lies-hold-civilization-together-if-people-ever-seriously-begin/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Science fiction writers missed the most salient feature of our modern era: the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/science-fiction-writers-missed-the-most-salient-feature-of-our-modern/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [ “...those whose tastes run to personal power \[can\] never be trusted to act save in the pursuit of their own ambition.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/those-whose-tastes-run-to-personal-power-can-never-be-trusted-to-act/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Solitude is only a good idea if you have the right people along to share it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/solitude-is-only-a-good-idea-if-you-have-the-right-people-along-to/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Universal deities ... never seem to smile. Not in any culture. What's the point of having omnipotence if you don't enjoy it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/universal-deities-never-seem-to-smile-not-in-any-culture-what-s-the/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Technological civilizations don't last long. You're all right until you get a printing press. Then a race starts between technology and common sense. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/technological-civilizations-don-t-last-long-you-re-all-right-until/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [My father used to take me to the movies on Saturdays. In 1940, when I was four years old, we encountered 'Flash Gordon Conquers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/my-father-used-to-take-me-to-the-movies-on-saturdays-in-1940-when-i/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [Of course, they (i. e., demons) had always been observed with some regularity, but that could usually be ascribed to an overabundance of piety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/of-course-they-i-e-demons-had-always-been-observed-with-some/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [If you want creative and successful children, resign yourself to jousting with rebels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/if-you-want-creative-and-successful-children-resign-yourself-to/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [There is no justice. There are occasional acts of vengeance, or regret, but there's no real justice. In the natural scheme of things, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/there-is-no-justice-there-are-occasional-acts-of-vengeance-or-regret/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [I was once invited to attend a private dinner for Senator John F. Kennedy. But it was a Saturday evening, and I passed. Had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/i-was-once-invited-to-attend-a-private-dinner-for-senator-john-f/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) [Explore all 81 Jack McDevitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part of the universe that thinks. The purpose for it all. It's no doubt a gratifying view, but the universe may have a different opinion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack McDevitt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of-creation-the-part-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of-creation-the-part-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jack-mcdevitt-8429_creation_man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of_1875164.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man has always seen himself the peak of creation. The part of the universe that thinks. The purpose for it…” — Jack McDevitt", "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": "Jack McDevitt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man has always seen himself the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of-creation-the-part-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/man-has-always-seen-himself-the-peak-of-creation-the-part-of-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 } } ] } ```