--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be able to rise from the earth; to be…" description: "\"To be able to rise from the earth; to be able, from a station in outer space, to see the relationship of the planet earth to other planets; to be able ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png" --- # To be able to rise from the earth; to be able, from a… ![“To be able to rise from the earth; to be able, from a station in outer space, to see the relationship of the planet earth to other planets; to be able to contemplate the billions of factors in precise and beautiful combination that make human existence possible; to be able to dwell on an encounter…” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png) > “To be able to rise from the earth; to be able, from a station in outer space, to see the relationship of the planet earth to other planets; to be able to contemplate the billions of factors in precise and beautiful combination that make human existence possible; to be able to dwell on an encounter of the human brain and spirit with the universe” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contemplating humanity’s place in the cosmos reveals the intricate, beautiful factors that enable existence. **In simple terms:** Seeing humanity’s cosmic context inspires awe. Key Takeaway Reflect on humanity’s cosmic role. Themes cosmology humility interconnectedness Mood wonderful thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - public speaking - personal reflection - science outreach Key Concepts existential awe systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does cosmic perspective affect daily choices? - What responsibilities arise from this awareness? A Different Perspective The view may feel overwhelming and lead to existential dread. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Human brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-brain/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Outer space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-space/) [Planet earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet-earth/) [Precise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [The time will come when man will know even what is going on in the other planets and perhaps be able to visit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-time-will-come-when-man-will-know-even-what-is-going-on-in-the/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [The math is dead simple: it seems that the frequency of planets able to support life is roughly one percent. In other words, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/the-math-is-dead-simple-it-seems-that-the-frequency-of-planets-able/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [How many people is the earth able to sustain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/how-many-people-is-the-earth-able-to-sustain/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [What did the tree learn from the earth to be able to talk with the sky?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/what-did-the-tree-learn-from-the-earth-to-be-able-to-talk-with-the-sky/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Mine is the first generation able to contemplate the possibility that we may live our entire lives without going to war or sending our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/mine-is-the-first-generation-able-to-contemplate-the-possibility-that/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“One of the most intriguing things about the universe, which probably cannot be explained by scientific investigations, is that it exists and we, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-nazrul-islam/one-of-the-most-intriguing-things-about-the-universe-which-probably/) [Jamal Nazrul Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-nazrul-islam/) > [It is a common happening that those in power, as their tenure of office continues, find themselves less and less able to contemplate relinquishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-eden/it-is-a-common-happening-that-those-in-power-as-their-tenure-of/) [Anthony Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-eden/) > [Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans as it is of gas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/beyond-a-critical-point-within-a-finite-space-freedom-diminishes-as/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Only by the Nonbeing does the life of the Absolute become possible. Without emptiness, motion is impossible; without motion, no real existence is possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/only-by-the-nonbeing-does-the-life-of-the-absolute-become-possible/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [Sören Kierkegaard has another answer: human existence is possible as existence not in despair, as existence not in tragedy; it is possible as existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/s-ren-kierkegaard-has-another-answer-human-existence-is-possible-as/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In certain favorable moods, memories -- what one has forgotten -- come to the top. Now if this is so, is it not possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/in-certain-favorable-moods-memories-what-one-has-forgotten-come-to/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Since nothing can exist that does not fulfil the conditions which render its existence possible, the different parts each being must be co-ordinated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-cuvier/since-nothing-can-exist-that-does-not-fulfil-the-conditions-which/) [Georges Cuvier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-cuvier/) > [Beyond peace, there is no longer any existence possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-heinemann/beyond-peace-there-is-no-longer-any-existence-possible/) [Gustav Heinemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-heinemann/) > [Quantum science suggests the existence of many possible futures for each moment of our lives. Each future lies in a state of rest until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-braden/quantum-science-suggests-the-existence-of-many-possible-futures-for/) [Gregg Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-braden/) > [“Consider the difference between the two types of globemaps of planet Earth, the physical and the political. The first is a marvelous wiggly affair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/consider-the-difference-between-the-two-types-of-globemaps-of-planet/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. 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If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be able to rise from the earth; to be able, from a station in outer space, to see the relationship of the planet earth to other planets; to be able to contemplate the billions of factors in precise and beautiful combination that make human existence possible; to be able to dwell on an encounter of the human brain and spirit with the universe", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be-able-from-a-station-in-outer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be-able-from-a-station-in-outer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f9/norman-cousins-2488_able_to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be_2155799.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be able to rise from the earth; to be able, from a station in outer space, to see the relationship of the…” — Norman Cousins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be able to rise from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be-able-from-a-station-in-outer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/to-be-able-to-rise-from-the-earth-to-be-able-from-a-station-in-outer/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```