--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of the scientists I know think…" description: "\"Most of the scientists I know think civilization is teetering on the brink of a global disaster. They just don't know when it's going to hit. I don't h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_answers_most-of-the-scientists-i-know-think-civi_3233051.jpg" --- # Most of the scientists I know think civilization is… ![“Most of the scientists I know think civilization is teetering on the brink of a global disaster. They just don't know when it's going to hit. I don't have the answer to that either. I'm scared as hell.” quote by Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_answers_most-of-the-scientists-i-know-think-civi_3233051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_answers_most-of-the-scientists-i-know-think-civi_3233051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae9/paul-r-ehrlich-13046_answers_most-of-the-scientists-i-know-think-civi_3233051.jpg) > “Most of the scientists I know think civilization is teetering on the brink of a global disaster. They just don't know when it's going to hit. I don't have the answer to that either. I'm scared as hell.” [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientists warn humanity is on the edge of a worldwide crisis, but timing is uncertain, causing deep fear. **In simple terms:** Scientists fear an imminent global crisis. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the risk and prepare. Themes environment risk uncertainty future Mood anxious urgent Type cautionary call to action When to use this quote - policy planning - community resilience - personal preparedness Key Concepts population dynamics climate change systemic collapse Questions to Reflect On - How can we act responsibly amid uncertainty? - What evidence would change your level of concern? A Different Perspective The warning may be overstated or lack precise data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“I apologise if you all know this, but the point is many, many people do not. 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Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [I think the evangelicals want to provoke an immense global disaster to precipitate the second coming of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/i-think-the-evangelicals-want-to-provoke-an-immense-global-disaster/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [If the views I have expressed be right, we can think of our civilization evolving with the growth of knowledge from small wandering tribes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/if-the-views-i-have-expressed-be-right-we-can-think-of-our/) [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) > [I think our civilization is minimal enough without underlining it. Sculpture as a created object in space should enrich, not reflect, and should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-chase-riboud/i-think-our-civilization-is-minimal-enough-without-underlining-it/) [Barbara Chase-Riboud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-chase-riboud/) > [I think that we, as a civilization, need to sit down and figure out how to solve political problems over a table, not over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sherman/i-think-that-we-as-a-civilization-need-to-sit-down-and-figure-out-how/) [Gary Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sherman/) > [I would seriously question whether anybody is really foolish enough to really say what they mean. Sometimes I think that civilization as we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hurley/i-would-seriously-question-whether-anybody-is-really-foolish-enough/) [Elizabeth Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hurley/) > [In careless ignorance they think it civilization, when in reality it is a portion of their slavery...To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/in-careless-ignorance-they-think-it-civilization-when-in-reality-it/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [I do not believe the greatest threat to our future is from bombs or guided missiles. I don't think our civilization will die that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-mckinley-gould/i-do-not-believe-the-greatest-threat-to-our-future-is-from-bombs-or/) Laurence McKinley Gould > [I think civilization is going to get to a point where we suddenly become responsible, stewards of the whole evolutionary process. 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