Arrogance Quote by Joseph Campbell
““The problem is that people have tried to look away from space and from the meaning of the moon landing. I remember seeing a picture of an astronaut standing on the moon. It was up at Yale and someone has scrawled on it, 'So what?' That is the arrogance of the kind of academic narrowness one too often sees; it is trapped in its own predictable prejudices, its own stale categories. It is the mind dulled to the poetry of existence. It's fashionable now to demand some economic payoff from space, some reward to prove it was all worthwhile. Those who say this resemble the apelike creatures in 2001 . They are fighting for food among themselves, while one separates himself from them and moves to the slab, motivated by awe. That is the point they are missing. He is the one who evolves into a human being; he is the one who understands the future.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Space Exploration, 1990s
The quote criticizes narrow academic focus that dismisses the awe and deeper meaning of space, reducing it to economic terms, and urges embracing wonder as essential for human evolution.
In simple terms: People often ignore the wonder of space, focusing only on money.
Key Takeaway
Seek awe, not just profit.
Themes
space exploration
human curiosity
philosophy
science
evolution
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- academic conferences
- policy debates
- public outreach
- education programs
Key Concepts
existential meaning
intellectual humility
future vision
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance practical benefits with inspirational goals?
- What role does wonder play in scientific progress?
A Different Perspective
The emphasis on economic payoff can overlook cultural and inspirational value.
![“My take on what happened with the moon landing was […] they suspect [ sic ] that on impact that the cameras would be damaged because back in 1969 cameras weren't, you know, like they are today, as good. So they had a studio set up at CBS to mimic the moon landing. And sure enough the cameras broke…” quote by Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/abe/kent-hovind-20354_broke_my-take-on-what-happened-with-the-moon-l_770189.jpg)
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
