--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live inside our universe and cannot…" description: "\"We live inside our universe and cannot get a bird's-eye view of it from outside. And we cannot even see all of our universe. Distant parts of it are ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6e/jocelyn-bell-burnell-12159_astronomy_we-live-inside-our-universe-and-cannot-g_2728734.jpg" --- # We live inside our universe and cannot get a bird's-eye… ![“We live inside our universe and cannot get a bird's-eye view of it from outside. And we cannot even see all of our universe. Distant parts of it are expanding away from us so fast that they are invisible; they go faster than the speed of light. Having bigger telescopes to see fainter stars will…” quote by Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6e/jocelyn-bell-burnell-12159_astronomy_we-live-inside-our-universe-and-cannot-g_2728734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6e/jocelyn-bell-burnell-12159_astronomy_we-live-inside-our-universe-and-cannot-g_2728734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6e/jocelyn-bell-burnell-12159_astronomy_we-live-inside-our-universe-and-cannot-g_2728734.jpg) > “We live inside our universe and cannot get a bird's-eye view of it from outside. And we cannot even see all of our universe. Distant parts of it are expanding away from us so fast that they are invisible; they go faster than the speed of light. Having bigger telescopes to see fainter stars will not help us here: invisible is truly invisible.” [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot view the universe from outside; parts are forever invisible due to cosmic expansion. **In simple terms:** The universe’s full view is impossible. Key Takeaway Accept limits of observation in cosmology. Themes science cosmology philosophy Mood inquisitive humble Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - research planning - educational outreach - theoretical modeling Key Concepts observable universe expansion instrumental limits Questions to Reflect On - What does invisibility mean for scientific inquiry? - How do we study what we cannot see? A Different Perspective Technological advances may not overcome fundamental barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Inside Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inside-universe-2204664/) [Invisible Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible-faster-2938415/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Outside Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-universe-460975/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Speed of light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed-of-light/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-distant-2938414/) ## Related quotes > [“If there was a controlling power outside the universe, it could not show itself to us as one of the facts inside the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-there-was-a-controlling-power-outside-the-universe-it-could-not-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“If there was a controlling power outside the universe, it could not show itself to us as one of the facts inside the universe—no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-there-was-a-controlling-power-outside-the-universe-it-could-not/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Although we don't know what is outside our universe, astronomers still wonder. Several pictures of what there might be have been dreamed up. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/although-we-don-t-know-what-is-outside-our-universe-astronomers-still/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [“Look inside yourself and you can see the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/look-inside-yourself-and-you-can-see-the-universe/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [We cannot see outside what we are not inside. The universe is to us what the huge engine is to the miniature engine; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-cannot-see-outside-what-we-are-not-inside-the-universe-is-to-us/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“And then swooping back in again, even faster, one long incredible fall through the human-shape of me and this time down past where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bunker/and-then-swooping-back-in-again-even-faster-one-long-incredible-fall/) [Lisa Bunker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bunker/) > [“Until I looked outside I could not see the universe was standing by for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/until-i-looked-outside-i-could-not-see-the-universe-was-standing-by/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [Is there no God, then, but at best an absentee God, sitting idle, ever since the first Sabbath, at the outside of his Universe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/is-there-no-god-then-but-at-best-an-absentee-god-sitting-idle-ever/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [There is nothing outside the universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/there-is-nothing-outside-the-universe/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) > [“Everything we know in this world is “contingent,” has a cause outside of itself. Therefore the universe, which is just a huge pile of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/everything-we-know-in-this-world-is-contingent-has-a-cause-outside-of/) [Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/) > [But when we face the great questions about gravitation Does it require time? Is it polar to the 'outside of the universe' or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/but-when-we-face-the-great-questions-about-gravitation-does-it/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [There is no such thing as outside the universe, as far as we can tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-m-carroll/there-is-no-such-thing-as-outside-the-universe-as-far-as-we-can-tell/) [Sean M. Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-m-carroll/) > [The meaning of the universe lies outside the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/the-meaning-of-the-universe-lies-outside-the-universe/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [Since you must admit that there is nothing outside the universe, it can have no limit and is accordingly without end or measure. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/since-you-must-admit-that-there-is-nothing-outside-the-universe-it/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“Where did this whole thing begin? If what we think of as reality is just a pattern that somebody brought Outside, and the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/where-did-this-whole-thing-begin-if-what-we-think-of-as-reality-is/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) ## More by Jocelyn Bell Burnell > [There's some evidence that if you're recruiting, you tend to recruit a mini-me. Then you have a very comfortable group round a table. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/there-s-some-evidence-that-if-you-re-recruiting-you-tend-to-recruit-a/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [The Sun's magnetic field reverses every 11 years. There have been a quarter of a million reversals since our predecessor, Homo Habilis, emerged, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/the-sun-s-magnetic-field-reverses-every-11-years-there-have-been-a/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [Science is a quest for understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/science-is-a-quest-for-understanding/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [As observatory architect, my dad was partly concerned with the maintenance of them all. 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They might interfere with your GPS or send your compass a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/solar-storms-cause-power-outages-they-pose-a-hazard-to-satellites/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [My father was an architect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/my-father-was-an-architect/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [I believe it would demean Nobel Prizes if they were awarded to research students, except in very exceptional cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/i-believe-it-would-demean-nobel-prizes-if-they-were-awarded-to/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [I've enjoyed being a single person, particularly because I'm travelling a lot. It would be hard to maintain a relationship - so I've really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/i-ve-enjoyed-being-a-single-person-particularly-because-i-m/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [Some of the hydrogen in your body comes from the Big Bang, and when you see a kid walking down the street with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/some-of-the-hydrogen-in-your-body-comes-from-the-big-bang-and-when/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [Although we don't know what is outside our universe, astronomers still wonder. Several pictures of what there might be have been dreamed up. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/although-we-don-t-know-what-is-outside-our-universe-astronomers-still/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [It's now widely recognised that a diverse research group is usually stronger, more creative, and more robust and flexible. Such a group usually copes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/it-s-now-widely-recognised-that-a-diverse-research-group-is-usually/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) > [There is stardust in your veins. We are literally, ultimately children of the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-bell-burnell/there-is-stardust-in-your-veins-we-are-literally-ultimately-children/) [Jocelyn Bell Burnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) [Explore all 56 Jocelyn Bell Burnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-bell-burnell/) ## More Astronomy quotes > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. 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The cosmic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-reason-so-many-of-us-are-obsessed-with-becoming-stars-is-because/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 6,190 Astronomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live inside our universe and cannot get a bird's-eye view of it from outside. And we cannot even see all of our universe. Distant parts of it are expanding away from us so fast that they are invisible; they go faster than the speed of light. 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