--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At this stage you must admit that…" description: "\"At this stage you must admit that whatever is seen to be sentient is nevertheless composed of atoms that are insentient. The phenomena open to our obse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/lucretius-1632_atoms_at-this-stage-you-must-admit-that-whatev_1470284.jpg" --- # At this stage you must admit that whatever is seen to be… ![“At this stage you must admit that whatever is seen to be sentient is nevertheless composed of atoms that are insentient. The phenomena open to our observation so not contradict this conclusion or conflict with it. Rather they lead us by the hand and compel us to believe that the animate is born…” quote by Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/lucretius-1632_atoms_at-this-stage-you-must-admit-that-whatev_1470284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/lucretius-1632_atoms_at-this-stage-you-must-admit-that-whatev_1470284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/924/lucretius-1632_atoms_at-this-stage-you-must-admit-that-whatev_1470284.jpg) > “At this stage you must admit that whatever is seen to be sentient is nevertheless composed of atoms that are insentient. The phenomena open to our observation so not contradict this conclusion or conflict with it. Rather they lead us by the hand and compel us to believe that the animate is born, as I maintain, of the insentient.” [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All sentient beings are made of non‑sentient atoms; our observations don’t contradict this, they guide us to see life emerging from inert matter. **In simple terms:** Life arises from inert atoms. Key Takeaway Accept that consciousness emerges from physical processes. Themes philosophy science materialism Mood analytical inquisitive Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - debating consciousness - teaching physics - writing a philosophy essay - discussing AI consciousness Key Concepts atomism emergence Questions to Reflect On - Can materialism fully explain consciousness? - What limits does this view have? A Different Perspective It may overlook subjective experience and the mystery of consciousness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Anything made out of destructible matter Infinite time would have devoured before. But if the atoms that make and replenish the world Have endured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/anything-made-out-of-destructible-matter-infinite-time-would-have/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Certainly it was no design of the atoms to place themselves in a particular order, nor did they decide what motions each should have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/certainly-it-was-no-design-of-the-atoms-to-place-themselves-in-a/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Even if I knew nothing of the atoms, I would venture to assert on the evidence of the celestial phenomena themselves, supported by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/even-if-i-knew-nothing-of-the-atoms-i-would-venture-to-assert-on-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [My wish for humanity is to invent a way to communicate between us and whatever comes next. And in the end that we the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/my-wish-for-humanity-is-to-invent-a-way-to-communicate-between-us-and/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [I absolutely don't think a sentient artificial intelligence is going to wage war against the human species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/i-absolutely-don-t-think-a-sentient-artificial-intelligence-is-going/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [Part of being a sentient human is the ability to anticipate others' mental states - to say "Fred's going to hate this but Jane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/part-of-being-a-sentient-human-is-the-ability-to-anticipate-others/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Sentience is a means to the end of continued existence. Sentient beings, by virtue of their being sentient, have an interest in remaining alive;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/sentience-is-a-means-to-the-end-of-continued-existence-sentient/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [Today is the first day of the rest of your short, brutish existence as a sentient creature before being snuffed out into utter nothingness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/today-is-the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-your-short-brutish-existence-as/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [That machines will surpass us in intelligence is inevitable. What it means is unknowable. Will they be sentient? What will they care about in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/that-machines-will-surpass-us-in-intelligence-is-inevitable-what-it/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/animals-are-sentient-intelligent-perceptive-funny-and-entertaining-we/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [“Sentience is not an end in itself. It is a means to the end of staying alive. Sentient beings use sensations of pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francione-gary-l/sentience-is-not-an-end-in-itself-it-is-a-means-to-the-end-of-staying/) [Francione, Gary L](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francione-gary-l/) > [Expectation loiters in the DNA of every sentient being; when you tell yourself or a loved one, 'Don't get your hopes up,' you're fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/expectation-loiters-in-the-dna-of-every-sentient-being-when-you-tell/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [The sentient beast has long been a staple of fantasy fiction and its antecedents in myth and folktale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sentient-beast-has-long-been-a-staple-of-fantasy-fiction-and-its/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [“He said that the world was sentient to its core and secret and black beyond men's imagining and that its nature did not reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-said-that-the-world-was-sentient-to-its-core-and-secret-and-black/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) ## More by Lucretius > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [First, then, I say, that the mind, which we often call the intellect, in which is placed the conduct and government of life, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/first-then-i-say-that-the-mind-which-we-often-call-the-intellect-in/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [See with what force yon river's crystal stream Resists the weight of many a massy beam. To sink the wood the more we vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/see-with-what-force-yon-river-s-crystal-stream-resists-the-weight-of/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“...nothing is more blissful than to occupy the heights effectively fortified by the teaching of the wise, tranquil sanctuaries from which you can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/nothing-is-more-blissful-than-to-occupy-the-heights-effectively/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [ ... deprived of pain, and also deprived of danger, able to do what it wants, \[Nature\] does not need us, nor understands our deserts,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/deprived-of-pain-and-also-deprived-of-danger-able-to-do-what-it-wants/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [It is a pleasure for to sit at ease Upon the land, and safely for to see How other folks are tossed on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/it-is-a-pleasure-for-to-sit-at-ease-upon-the-land-and-safely-for-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Even if I knew nothing of the atoms, I would venture to assert on the evidence of the celestial phenomena themselves, supported by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/even-if-i-knew-nothing-of-the-atoms-i-would-venture-to-assert-on-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Nothing from nothing ever yet was born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/nothing-from-nothing-ever-yet-was-born/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [We plainly perceive that the mind strengthens and decays with the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/we-plainly-perceive-that-the-mind-strengthens-and-decays-with-the-body/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [For piety lies not in being often seen turning a veiled head to stones, nor in approaching every altar, nor in lying prostratebefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-piety-lies-not-in-being-often-seen-turning-a-veiled-head-to/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [No single thing abides; but all things flow. Fragment to fragment clings - the things thus grow Until we know them and name them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/no-single-thing-abides-but-all-things-flow-fragment-to-fragment/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [What came from the earth returns back to the earth, and the spirit that was sent from heaven, again carried back, is received into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/what-came-from-the-earth-returns-back-to-the-earth-and-the-spirit/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [For thee the wonder-working earth puts forth sweet flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-thee-the-wonder-working-earth-puts-forth-sweet-flowers/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [No matter how difficult a task may look.. Persistence and steady action will get you through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/no-matter-how-difficult-a-task-may-look-persistence-and-steady-action/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) [Explore all 221 Lucretius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) ## More Atoms quotes > [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/) Giulio Natta > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Traditional nationalism cannot survive the fissioning of the atom. One world or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/traditional-nationalism-cannot-survive-the-fissioning-of-the-atom-one/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanford-wilson/i-am-not-sure-why-but-i-have-been-obsessed-by-the-atom-bomb-ever/) [Lanford Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanford-wilson/) > [History is the short trudge from Adam to atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-the-short-trudge-from-adam-to-atom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The dogma of the impossibility of determining the atomic constitution of substances, which until recently was advocated with such fervor by the most able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-korner/the-dogma-of-the-impossibility-of-determining-the-atomic-constitution/) Wilhelm Korner > [I have never seen what to me seemed an atom of proof that there is a future life. And yet-I am inclined to expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-seen-what-to-me-seemed-an-atom-of-proof-that-there-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/) [Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/) > [Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nature-is-full-of-wonders-every-atom-is-a-standing-miracle-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [ “\[Think\] of an experience from your childhood. Something you remember clearly, something you can see, feel, maybe even smell, as if you were really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-grand/think-of-an-experience-from-your-childhood-something-you-remember/) [Steve Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-grand/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Browse all 852 Atoms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At this stage you must admit that whatever is seen to be sentient is nevertheless composed of atoms that are insentient. The phenomena open to our observation so not contradict this conclusion or conflict with it. 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