--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People get cranky when you burst their…" description: "\"People get cranky when you burst their bubble. Over time, advances in astronomy have relentlessly reinforced the utter insignificance of Earth on a cel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/nathan-myhrvold-3298_activist_people-get-cranky-when-you-burst-their-b_3124410.png" --- # People get cranky when you burst their bubble. Over time… ![“People get cranky when you burst their bubble. Over time, advances in astronomy have relentlessly reinforced the utter insignificance of Earth on a celestial scale. Fortunately, political and religious leaders stopped barbecuing astronomers for saying so, turning their spits with human-rights…” quote by Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/nathan-myhrvold-3298_activist_people-get-cranky-when-you-burst-their-b_3124410.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/nathan-myhrvold-3298_activist_people-get-cranky-when-you-burst-their-b_3124410.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/nathan-myhrvold-3298_activist_people-get-cranky-when-you-burst-their-b_3124410.png) > “People get cranky when you burst their bubble. Over time, advances in astronomy have relentlessly reinforced the utter insignificance of Earth on a celestial scale. Fortunately, political and religious leaders stopped barbecuing astronomers for saying so, turning their spits with human-rights activists instead.” [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human pride is fragile; scientific discoveries that shrink our cosmic importance often provoke defensive reactions, especially from leaders. **In simple terms:** Science can threaten ego and power. Key Takeaway Stay humble and open‑minded. Themes science humility ego leadership Mood reflective skeptical Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - public policy - media communication Key Concepts cosmic perspective psychology of denial political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage leaders to accept uncomfortable truths? - What role does humility play in scientific progress? A Different Perspective People may reject facts that challenge their worldview. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Astronomers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomers/) [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Celestial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celestial/) [Cranky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cranky/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Insignificance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insignificance/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-leaders/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I would like to say I am sick people being cranky or rude and trying to pass it off as intelligent. 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(Astrid) To protect you from Thanatos so that your sisters don’t get all freaky and destroy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/simi-why-did-acheron-send-you-here-astrid-to-protect-you-from/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I have a skeptical and cranky side, and I'm forever puzzled why people believe the, seeming to me, dumb things that they choose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-have-a-skeptical-and-cranky-side-and-i-m-forever-puzzled-why-people/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [You should not do everything in your power to make reviewers cranky before - right before they see your movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-grazer/you-should-not-do-everything-in-your-power-to-make-reviewers-cranky/) [Brian Grazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-grazer/) > [“He couldn't leave a friend to die. 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There's entertaining cranky, annoying cranky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/crankiness-is-at-the-essence-of-all-comedy-my-wife-and-i-were/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [When I don't get enough sleep, I am cranky, vulnerable to headaches, and my concentration is poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/when-i-don-t-get-enough-sleep-i-am-cranky-vulnerable-to-headaches-and/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Gary Greenberg is a thoughtful comedian and a cranky philosopher and a humble pest of a reporter, equal parts Woody Allen, Kierkegaard, and Columbo.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gideon-lewis-kraus/gary-greenberg-is-a-thoughtful-comedian-and-a-cranky-philosopher-and/) [Gideon Lewis-Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gideon-lewis-kraus/) > [I'm not cranky. I just have a violent reaction to stupid people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-cranky-i-just-have-a-violent-reaction-to-stupid-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [I have played several characters that are crabby and cranky. I don't know if I'm just not a very well-developed human being or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-greer/i-have-played-several-characters-that-are-crabby-and-cranky-i-don-t/) [Judy Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-greer/) ## More by Nathan Myhrvold > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? 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