--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine a life-form whose brainpower is…" description: "\"Imagine a life-form whose brainpower is to ours as ours is to a chimpanzee’s. To such a species, our highest mental achievements would be trivial. Thei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_achievement_imagine-a-life-form-whose-brainpower-is_2282246.jpg" --- # Imagine a life-form whose brainpower is to ours as ours is… ![“Imagine a life-form whose brainpower is to ours as ours is to a chimpanzee’s. To such a species, our highest mental achievements would be trivial. Their toddlers, instead of learning their ABCs on Sesame Street, would learn multivariable calculus on Boolean Boulevard. Our most complex theorems…” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_achievement_imagine-a-life-form-whose-brainpower-is_2282246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_achievement_imagine-a-life-form-whose-brainpower-is_2282246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/605/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_achievement_imagine-a-life-form-whose-brainpower-is_2282246.jpg) > “Imagine a life-form whose brainpower is to ours as ours is to a chimpanzee’s. To such a species, our highest mental achievements would be trivial. Their toddlers, instead of learning their ABCs on Sesame Street, would learn multivariable calculus on Boolean Boulevard. Our most complex theorems, our deepest philosophies, the cherished works of our most creative artists, would be projects their schoolkids bring home for Mom and Dad to display on the refrigerator door.” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advanced alien intelligence would find human achievements trivial, highlighting our modest place in the universe. **In simple terms:** Aliens would see us as simple. Key Takeaway Recognize humanity’s modesty. Themes science humility cosmos Mood wonder thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - space exploration - philosophical debates Key Concepts intelligence disparity anthropocentrism Questions to Reflect On - How would we respond to such beings? - What does this imply about human potential? A Different Perspective Assumes alien motives align with ours. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Brainpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainpower/) [Brainpower Chimpanzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brainpower-chimpanzee-5330948/) [Calculus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calculus/) [Chimpanzees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimpanzees/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Deepest Philosophies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deepest-philosophies-5330951/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Brainpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-brainpower-5330950/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Mental Achievements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-achievements-5330949/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom and dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-and-dad/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Refrigerators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refrigerators/) [Sesame street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sesame-street/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Toddler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toddler/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [You have to be born with enough brainpower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-have-to-be-born-with-enough-brainpower/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Brainpower is the scarcest commodity and the only one of real value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/brainpower-is-the-scarcest-commodity-and-the-only-one-of-real-value/) [Robert A. 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People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) [Chaz Brenchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-brenchley/) > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. 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Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagine a life-form whose brainpower is to ours as ours is to a chimpanzee’s. To such a species, our highest mental achievements would be trivial. 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