--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whoever has seen the universe, whoever…" description: "\"“Whoever has seen the universe, whoever has beheld the fiery designs of the universe, cannot think in terms of one man, of that man’s trivial fortunes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/jorge-luis-borges-275_life_whoever-has-seen-the-universe-whoever-ha_1783271.jpg" --- # Whoever has seen the universe, whoever has beheld the… ![“Whoever has seen the universe, whoever has beheld the fiery designs of the universe, cannot think in terms of one man, of that man’s trivial fortunes or misfortunes, though he be that very man. That man has been he and now matters no more to him. What is the life of that other to him, the nation…” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/jorge-luis-borges-275_life_whoever-has-seen-the-universe-whoever-ha_1783271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/jorge-luis-borges-275_life_whoever-has-seen-the-universe-whoever-ha_1783271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/jorge-luis-borges-275_life_whoever-has-seen-the-universe-whoever-ha_1783271.jpg) > ““Whoever has seen the universe, whoever has beheld the fiery designs of the universe, cannot think in terms of one man, of that man’s trivial fortunes or misfortunes, though he be that very man. That man has been he and now matters no more to him. What is the life of that other to him, the nation of that other to him, if he, now, is no one? This is why I do not pronounce the formula, why, lying here in the darkness, I let the days obliterate me.”” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The cosmos renders individual human concerns insignificant; personal identity dissolves in the vast universe. **In simple terms:** Human concerns are tiny compared to the universe. Key Takeaway Accept life's insignificance. Themes existential philosophy humility Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - meditation - creative writing - philosophical debate - spiritual practice Key Concepts cosmic perspective identity impermanence Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How do you find purpose amid vastness? A Different Perspective Focusing on insignificance can cause nihilism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Darkness Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness-let-513978/) [Days Obliterate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-obliterate-1880893/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Universe Beheld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-beheld-1880892/) [Universe Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-think-563250/) ## Related quotes > [If the truth will come out only in the darkness, then let the lights go off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-the-truth-will-come-out-only-in-the-darkness-then-let-the-lights/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.     —Nikola Tesla; inventor, physicist, supergenius When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/if-you-want-to-find-the-secrets-of-the-universe-think-in-terms-of/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. —Nokola Tesla; inventor, physicist, supergenius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-find-the-secrets-of-the-universe-think-in-terms-of-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-c-white/rom-13-12-the-night-is-far-spent-the-day-is-at-hand-let-us-therefore/) [Craig C. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-c-white/) > [“Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Lo, let that night be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/let-that-day-be-darkness-let-not-god-regard-it-from-above-neither-let/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“Sometimes the thing we are not able to let go of isn't benevolent. Sometimes we hang on to past hurts and old ideas. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/sometimes-the-thing-we-are-not-able-to-let-go-of-isn-t-benevolent/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [“Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat, Be Shadows of the Night, Be One With the Darkness, And Never Let in the Light”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-roustan/eat-to-live-not-live-to-eat-be-shadows-of-the-night-be-one-with-the/) [Pierre Roustan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-roustan/) > [Do not fight the darkness, let the light in and the darkness will disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/do-not-fight-the-darkness-let-the-light-in-and-the-darkness-will/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [Where there is darkness, let there be light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/where-there-is-darkness-let-there-be-light/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [“I will face the darkness, but I will not let it become me. Fear may be present but it will not possess me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-dewey/i-will-face-the-darkness-but-i-will-not-let-it-become-me-fear-may-be/) [Laurel Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-dewey/) > [“Caspian looked angry. “Did you ever think that things might have changed? We don’t live and die by the sword anymore. I may not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-verday/caspian-looked-angry-did-you-ever-think-that-things-might-have/) [Jessica Verday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-verday/) > [A beam in darkness: let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-beam-in-darkness-let-it-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let us not curse the darkness. Let us kindle little lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-vaswani/let-us-not-curse-the-darkness-let-us-kindle-little-lights/) [Dada Vaswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-vaswani/) > [“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/the-night-is-far-spent-the-day-is-at-hand-let-us-therefore-cast-off/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [“some of that darkness stayed inside me. I barely recognized it at the time, but it would grow into a heavy shadow, something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-smucker/some-of-that-darkness-stayed-inside-me-i-barely-recognized-it-at-the/) [Shawn Smucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-smucker/) ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge-but-i-like-to-keep-an-open/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## More Darkness quotes > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/) [anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) [Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/) [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whoever has seen the universe, whoever has beheld the fiery designs of the universe, cannot think in terms of one man, of that man’s trivial fortunes or misfortunes, though he be that very man. That man has been he and now matters no more to him. What is the life of that other to him, the nation of that other to him, if he, now, is no one? 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