--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But human beings, too, are ephemeral…" description: "\"“But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the planetary scale. The number of things that they do not notice are literally astronomical.”\" — N.K. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/n-k-jemisin-1466_human-beings_but-human-beings-too-are-ephemeral-thing_349301.png" --- # But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the… ![“But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the planetary scale. The number of things that they do not notice are literally astronomical.” quote by N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/n-k-jemisin-1466_human-beings_but-human-beings-too-are-ephemeral-thing_349301.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/n-k-jemisin-1466_human-beings_but-human-beings-too-are-ephemeral-thing_349301.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/n-k-jemisin-1466_human-beings_but-human-beings-too-are-ephemeral-thing_349301.png) > ““But human beings, too, are ephemeral things in the planetary scale. The number of things that they do not notice are literally astronomical.”” [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings are fleeting compared to the vast, unnoticed details of the world. **In simple terms:** We are tiny in the grand scheme. Key Takeaway Notice the small things around you. Themes ephemerality human perspective cosmic scale awareness Mood thoughtful humbling Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily reflection - education - creative writing - mindfulness practice Key Concepts philosophy existentialism environmentalism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What details do you miss daily? - How does recognizing our smallness affect behavior? A Different Perspective We often overlook the majority of reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) ## Related quotes > [The story seems to be that almost every star has a planetary system... and, also, the definition of 'habitable zone' has expanded. 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Jemisin > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [You are Insignificant. One of millions, neither special nor unique. I did not ask for this ignominy, and I resent the comparison. Fine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/you-are-insignificant-one-of-millions-neither-special-nor-unique-i/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“She feels closer than ever to her father in this moment of utter broken rage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/she-feels-closer-than-ever-to-her-father-in-this-moment-of-utter/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When a comm builds atop a fault line, do you blame its walls when they inevitably crush the people inside? 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Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [We can never be gods, after all--but we can become something less than human with frightening ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/we-can-never-be-gods-after-all-but-we-can-become-something-less-than/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“(This is not a digression.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/this-is-not-a-digression/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“He's not a parasite if she needs him, too, and if she gives what he will not take. (One day soon, she will learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/he-s-not-a-parasite-if-she-needs-him-too-and-if-she-gives-what-he/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) [Explore all 225 N.K. Jemisin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) ## More Human beings quotes > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/) Kenan Malik > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. 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