--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sooner or later for good or ill, a united…" description: "\"Sooner or later for good or ill, a united mankind, equipped with science and power, will probably turn its attention to the other planets, not only for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/olaf-stapledon-9950_attention_sooner-or-later-for-good-or-ill-a-united_2144335.jpg" --- # Sooner or later for good or ill, a united mankind… ![“Sooner or later for good or ill, a united mankind, equipped with science and power, will probably turn its attention to the other planets, not only for economic exploitation, but also as possible homes for man. . . . The goal for the solar system would seem to be that it should become an…” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/olaf-stapledon-9950_attention_sooner-or-later-for-good-or-ill-a-united_2144335.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/olaf-stapledon-9950_attention_sooner-or-later-for-good-or-ill-a-united_2144335.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efe/olaf-stapledon-9950_attention_sooner-or-later-for-good-or-ill-a-united_2144335.jpg) > “Sooner or later for good or ill, a united mankind, equipped with science and power, will probably turn its attention to the other planets, not only for economic exploitation, but also as possible homes for man. . . . The goal for the solar system would seem to be that it should become an interplanetary community of very diverse worlds . . . . Through the pooling of this wealth of experience, through this 'commonwealth of worlds,' new levels of mental and spiritual development should become possible, levels at present quite inconceivable to man.” [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity will eventually expand into space, forming a diverse interplanetary community that fosters unprecedented mental and spiritual growth. **In simple terms:** Humans will colonize other planets, creating a shared cosmic society. Key Takeaway Embrace scientific progress and cooperation for future space settlement. Themes exploration cooperation spiritual growth future societies Mood hopeful inquisitive Type visionary philosophical When to use this quote - space colonization - global cooperation - education reform - philosophical discourse Key Concepts interplanetary community commonwealth of worlds mental development Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do we have toward other worlds? - How can we ensure equitable benefits of space expansion? A Different Perspective Challenges include resource limits, political conflict, and ethical concerns about planetary exploitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploitation/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Solar system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-system/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-development/) [Star gazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-gazing/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe the search for life shouldn't restrict attention to planets like Earth. Science fiction writers have other ideas: balloon-like creatures floating in the dense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/maybe-the-search-for-life-shouldn-t-restrict-attention-to-planets/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [Exploration of closer planets will continue. Only after he exhausts all the resources here on earth will man go further ahead, which is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-sharma/exploration-of-closer-planets-will-continue-only-after-he-exhausts/) [Rakesh Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-sharma/) > [“Smiling, he said, “Did you know that astronomers call them interplanetary dust?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/smiling-he-said-did-you-know-that-astronomers-call-them/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“In this century, we are about to enter interplanetary civilization. In order to survive, we need to go beyond neoclassical economics definition. We define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-this-century-we-are-about-to-enter-interplanetary-civilization-in/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“These beings, with soaring imagination, eventually flung themselves and their machines into interplanetary space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-porco/these-beings-with-soaring-imagination-eventually-flung-themselves-and/) [Carolyn Porco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-porco/) > [The vast interplanetary and vast interstellar regions will no longer be regarded as waste places in the universe. We shall find them to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-vast-interplanetary-and-vast-interstellar-regions-will-no-longer/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Those interested in celestial navigation are advised to first obtain a rudimentary knowledge of integral calculus, phlebotomy, astral physics and related subjects. The use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/those-interested-in-celestial-navigation-are-advised-to-first-obtain/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“Over billions of years, the planets exchange quite a bit of material. This is not speculation; this is fact. Planetary scientists have found pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/over-billions-of-years-the-planets-exchange-quite-a-bit-of-material/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [As time goes by, I'm increasingly impressed by how very special and timely it was that we got the degree of national commitment needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/as-time-goes-by-i-m-increasingly-impressed-by-how-very-special-and/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [There is a project that's underway called the interplanetary Internet. It's in operation between Earth and Mars. It's operating on the International Space Station.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-is-a-project-that-s-underway-called-the-interplanetary-internet/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [These UFOs are interplanetary devices systematically observing the earth, either manned or under remote control, or both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-w-chidlaw/these-ufos-are-interplanetary-devices-systematically-observing-the/) Benjamin W. Chidlaw > [In 1492 Columbus knew less about the far Atlantic than we do about the heavens, yet he chose not to sail with a flotilla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/in-1492-columbus-knew-less-about-the-far-atlantic-than-we-do-about/) [Wernher von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/) > [By the time I'm 40, interplanetary travel will be common. Nobody will want to talk to me at that age, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-frehley/by-the-time-i-m-40-interplanetary-travel-will-be-common-nobody-will/) [Ace Frehley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-frehley/) > [“Interplanetary dust,” I repeated, liking the feel of the words on my tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/interplanetary-dust-i-repeated-liking-the-feel-of-the-words-on-my/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [The nations of the world will have to unite for the next war will be an interplanetary war. The nations of Earth must some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/the-nations-of-the-world-will-have-to-unite-for-the-next-war-will-be/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## More by Olaf Stapledon > [ No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb \[Earth\] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-another-planet-could-have-guessed/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [In fact man's career has been less like a mountain torrent hurtling from rock to rock, than a great sluggish river, broken very seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/in-fact-man-s-career-has-been-less-like-a-mountain-torrent-hurtling/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [I loathe the urchin's cruelty to the cat, but I will not loathe the urchin. 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But man is a fair spirit, whom a star conceived and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/great-are-the-stars-and-man-is-of-no-account-to-them-but-man-is-a/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [Without Satan, with God only, how poor a universe, how trite a music!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/without-satan-with-god-only-how-poor-a-universe-how-trite-a-music/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [I see, indeed I know, that in some sense God is love, and God is wisdom, and God is creative action, yes and God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/i-see-indeed-i-know-that-in-some-sense-god-is-love-and-god-is-wisdom/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“With characteristic lack of false modesty, John once said to me, "My looks are a rough test of people. If they don't begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/with-characteristic-lack-of-false-modesty-john-once-said-to-me-my/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [ \[S\]ervants of darkness had no lasting joy in their service. In all of them the will for darkness was a perversion of the will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/s-ervants-of-darkness-had-no-lasting-joy-in-their-service-in-all-of/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“The truth of the matter was something much more subtle and tremendous than any plain physical miracle could ever be. But never mind that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/the-truth-of-the-matter-was-something-much-more-subtle-and-tremendous/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [Even when all the worlds have frozen or exploded, and all the suns gone dead and cold, there'll still be time. Oh, God, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/even-when-all-the-worlds-have-frozen-or-exploded-and-all-the-suns/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [The Tibetan missionaries in their mood of bright confidence disconcerted the imperial governments by laughing the new movement into frustration. For a sham faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/the-tibetan-missionaries-in-their-mood-of-bright-confidence/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“For the former, activity, any kind of activity, was an end in itself; for the latter, activity was but a progress toward the true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/for-the-former-activity-any-kind-of-activity-was-an-end-in-itself-for/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [We have no government and no laws, if by law is meant a stereotyped convention supported by force, and not to be altered without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/we-have-no-government-and-no-laws-if-by-law-is-meant-a-stereotyped/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) > [“In the tide of these wild thoughts we checked our fancy, remembering that only on the rare grains called planets can life gain foothold,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaf-stapledon/in-the-tide-of-these-wild-thoughts-we-checked-our-fancy-remembering/) [Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) [Explore all 69 Olaf Stapledon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaf-stapledon/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. 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Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sooner or later for good or ill, a united mankind, equipped with science and power, will probably turn its attention to the other planets, not only for economic exploitation, but also as possible homes for man. . . . 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