--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intelligent life can't be all that common…" description: "\"Intelligent life can't be all that common because it's really rare on Earth and especially since we define ourselves to be intelligent. But in the eyes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_alien_intelligent-life-can-t-be-all-that-commo_606644.png" --- # Intelligent life can't be all that common because it's… ![“Intelligent life can't be all that common because it's really rare on Earth and especially since we define ourselves to be intelligent. But in the eyes of an alien coming here who has the technology to make it here, they might observe us and conclude that there's no sign of intelligent life on…” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_alien_intelligent-life-can-t-be-all-that-commo_606644.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_alien_intelligent-life-can-t-be-all-that-commo_606644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_alien_intelligent-life-can-t-be-all-that-commo_606644.png) > “Intelligent life can't be all that common because it's really rare on Earth and especially since we define ourselves to be intelligent. But in the eyes of an alien coming here who has the technology to make it here, they might observe us and conclude that there's no sign of intelligent life on Earth.” [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. Intelligent life may be rare; alien observers could deem Earth unintelligent based on our behavior. **In simple terms:** Aliens might think Earth lacks intelligence. Key Takeaway Reflect on humanity’s impact. Themes astrobiology philosophy humility Mood thought‑provoking humble Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - space exploration - environmental policy - education - global cooperation Key Concepts existential risk planetary stewardship technological development Questions to Reflect On - What does 'intelligence' truly mean? - How can we demonstrate intelligence to an alien civilization? A Different Perspective Human self‑assessment may be flawed when judged externally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien/) [Alien Coming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien-coming-4935384/) [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent/) [Intelligent life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-common-283775/) [Life Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-earth/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [ \[In the Universe it may be that\] Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare. Some would say it has yet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-universe-it-may-be-that-primitive-life-is-very-common-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Other intelligent life-forms will differ greatly in appearance - they may resemble the creature in E.T. or startle us with their beauty - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-drake/other-intelligent-life-forms-will-differ-greatly-in-appearance-they/) [Frank Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-drake/) > [Is there intelligent life on Earth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-drake/is-there-intelligent-life-on-earth/) [Frank Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-drake/) > [There is intelligent life on Earth, but Im just visiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-intelligent-life-on-earth-but-im-just-visiting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only when science and technology are used with human concern in a world in which all of the earth's resources are held as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/only-when-science-and-technology-are-used-with-human-concern-in-a/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [“Looking more closely at Earth’s atmospheric fingerprints, human biomarkers will also include sulfuric, carbonic, and nitric acids, and other components of smog from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/looking-more-closely-at-earth-s-atmospheric-fingerprints-human/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“So, whether the aliens explore with chemistry or with radio waves, they might come to the same conclusion: a planet where there’s advanced technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/so-whether-the-aliens-explore-with-chemistry-or-with-radio-waves-they/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Perhaps we've never been visited by aliens because they have looked upon Earth and decided there's no sign of intelligent life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/perhaps-we-ve-never-been-visited-by-aliens-because-they-have-looked/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [My only hope is that every other alien civilization isn't doing exactly what we are doing because then everybody would be listening, nobody would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/my-only-hope-is-that-every-other-alien-civilization-isn-t-doing/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“We don't know how to communicate meaningfully with chimpanzees. 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They would now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/for-all-we-know-the-aliens-have-already-done-this-and-unwittingly/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I wonder if, in fact, we have been observed by aliens and upon close examination of human conduct and human behavior they have concluded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-wonder-if-in-fact-we-have-been-observed-by-aliens-and-upon-close/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Since life on Earth is, so far, the only known example of life in the universe, our dilemma may simply be that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/since-life-on-earth-is-so-far-the-only-known-example-of-life-in-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science reveals that all life on Earth is one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-reveals-that-all-life-on-earth-is-one/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [This administration affects the everyday life of the common person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jourgensen/this-administration-affects-the-everyday-life-of-the-common-person/) [Al Jourgensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jourgensen/) ## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. 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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 Alien quotes > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [“If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the north?' 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That's a scary movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-nelson/alien-s-a-great-one-that-s-a-scary-movie/) [Judd Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-nelson/) > [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Rick stared at him. "Your brother is an alien." 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