---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Can we consider the universe real, and if…"
description: "\"Can we consider the universe real, and if so, in what way?\" — Philip K. Dick"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg"
---

#  Can we consider the universe real, and if so, in what way?

![“Can we consider the universe real, and if so, in what way?” quote by Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg)

> “Can we consider the universe real, and if so, in what way?”

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote questions the existence and nature of the universe, inviting philosophical inquiry into reality.

**In simple terms:** Ask whether the universe truly exists and how.

Key Takeaway

Explore the nature of reality.

Themes

existence philosophy reality

Mood

curious speculative

Type

philosophical inquisitive

When to use this quote

- science
- art
- personal belief

Key Concepts

ontology cosmology perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports the universe’s reality?
- How do perceptions shape your understanding of existence?

A Different Perspective

Defining reality can be elusive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider/) [Consider Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider-universe-1770301/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-real-914888/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [“The universe is real for us all and dissimilar to each one of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/the-universe-is-real-for-us-all-and-dissimilar-to-each-one-of-us/)

[Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/)

> [The next time you check your moves in the mirror and reflect on how special you are, consider that somewhere in this universe or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/the-next-time-you-check-your-moves-in-the-mirror-and-reflect-on-how/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [“In its quest to discover how the patterns of reality are organised, the story of modern science hints at a picture of a set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hamilton/in-its-quest-to-discover-how-the-patterns-of-reality-are-organised/)

[Bob Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hamilton/)

> [If you consider the universe one second after the Big Bang, the expansion rate would have to have been just right to an accuracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-guth/if-you-consider-the-universe-one-second-after-the-big-bang-the/)

[Alan Guth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-guth/)

> [“It seemed that digression was the true principle of the universe, that the only real subject was the way the subject kept changing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/it-seemed-that-digression-was-the-true-principle-of-the-universe-that/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [Everyman and every living being have the same birth day: The birthday of the universe is our real birthday!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/everyman-and-every-living-being-have-the-same-birth-day-the-birthday/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Whatever is real in our universe is real in a moment of time, which is one of a succession of moments. The past was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/whatever-is-real-in-our-universe-is-real-in-a-moment-of-time-which-is/)

[Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/)

> [If you can imagine a thing, conjure it up in space then you can make it... The universe is real but you can't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/if-you-can-imagine-a-thing-conjure-it-up-in-space-then-you-can-make/)

[Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/)

> [“For millenia, scientists always try to measure the size of this vast universe. One way to know that is first to find the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/for-millenia-scientists-always-try-to-measure-the-size-of-this-vast/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [I was a very intelligent kid. I used my intelligence to support my passions. When it came to comic books, I became enthralled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-was-a-very-intelligent-kid-i-used-my-intelligence-to-support-my/)

[Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/)

> [Real wisdom does not occur here in this physical universe. Real wisdom is something that you have to move into the planes of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/real-wisdom-does-not-occur-here-in-this-physical-universe-real-wisdom/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“We humans are still a joke in this universe; we are not real, not yet! Universe can annihilate us in seconds! If we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-humans-are-still-a-joke-in-this-universe-we-are-not-real-not-yet/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“..but if it does occur, then anyone can comprehend that above us and below us, outside of ourselves and deep within ourselves, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-szl-krasznahorkai/but-if-it-does-occur-then-anyone-can-comprehend-that-above-us-and/)

[László Krasznahorkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-szl-krasznahorkai/)

> [Yet, the Universe is real enough to the conscious beings in it, which are as unreal as it is itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yet-the-universe-is-real-enough-to-the-conscious-beings-in-it-which/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The universe is real, but you can't see it. You have to imagine it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/the-universe-is-real-but-you-can-t-see-it-you-have-to-imagine-it/)

[Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/)

## More by Philip K. Dick

> [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [Even if all life on our planet is destroyed, there must be other life somewhere which we know nothing of. It is impossible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/even-if-all-life-on-our-planet-is-destroyed-there-must-be-other-life/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [“That is not how you do it; you do not solve one problem with another, greater problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/that-is-not-how-you-do-it-you-do-not-solve-one-problem-with-another/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [For each person there is a sentence—a series of words—which has the power to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/for-each-person-there-is-a-sentence-a-series-of-words-which-has-the/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [I want to write about people I love, and put them into a fictional world spun out of my own mind, not the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-want-to-write-about-people-i-love-and-put-them-into-a-fictional/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [The day came. The wrath descended. Sin, guilt, and retribution? The manic psychoses of those entities we referred to as states, institutions, systems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-day-came-the-wrath-descended-sin-guilt-and-retribution-the-manic/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [The church of my choice is the free, open world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-church-of-my-choice-is-the-free-open-world/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [“I see,' Rick said. He felt numb. Completely. Throughout his entire body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-see-rick-said-he-felt-numb-completely-throughout-his-entire-body/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [“What is identity? he asked himself. Where does the act end? Nobody knows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-is-identity-he-asked-himself-where-does-the-act-end-nobody-knows/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [What scared me the most was when my father would put on the gasmask. His face would disappear... This was not a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-scared-me-the-most-was-when-my-father-would-put-on-the-gasmask/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [“A man is an angel that has become deranged, Joe Fernwright thought. Once they – all of them – had been genuine angels, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/a-man-is-an-angel-that-has-become-deranged-joe-fernwright-thought/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [“When do I see a photograph, when a reflection?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/when-do-i-see-a-photograph-when-a-reflection/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [My major preoccupation is the question, 'What is reality?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/my-major-preoccupation-is-the-question-what-is-reality/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

[Explore all 489 Philip K. Dick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

## More Consider quotes

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

> [It was the one dream he'd never permitted himself to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-the-one-dream-he-d-never-permitted-himself-to-consider/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/)

[Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/)

> [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/)

[Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/)

> [She would consider each day a miracle - which indeed it is, when you consider the number of unexpected things that could happen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-would-consider-each-day-a-miracle-which-indeed-it-is-when-you/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [Everything is a part of what God's up to in your life, so I think our job is to embrace it. Everything. Embrace it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaither/everything-is-a-part-of-what-god-s-up-to-in-your-life-so-i-think-our/)

[Gloria Gaither](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaither/)

> [As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-scott/as-a-layperson-i-consider-myself-fairly-well-educated-in-terms-of/)

[Reid Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-scott/)

> [Because of my tremendous respect for Bob Barker and for the show's high standards of professionalism I consider this a tremendous honor that few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-west/because-of-my-tremendous-respect-for-bob-barker-and-for-the-show-s/)

[Randy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-west/)

> [Instead of explaining the sober facts of mechanics and electricity, I want to say a few words about the debt which we owe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-bloch/instead-of-explaining-the-sober-facts-of-mechanics-and-electricity-i/)

[Felix Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-bloch/)

> [I'm all over the place, and I consider myself a bit of a scrounger: 'What will I do next, so I'm not broke?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kightlinger/i-m-all-over-the-place-and-i-consider-myself-a-bit-of-a-scrounger/)

[Laura Kightlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kightlinger/)

> [I do consider myself part of black history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-do-consider-myself-part-of-black-history/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/)

[Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/)

> [These Americans are among the working poor with full-time jobs earning $5.15 an hour. Millions fall into this boat, even more when you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-kaptur/these-americans-are-among-the-working-poor-with-full-time-jobs/)

[Marcy Kaptur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-kaptur/)

> [“It is something to consider, if we're making a list of things to consider, that most relationships are mirrors of yourself, and that those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/it-is-something-to-consider-if-we-re-making-a-list-of-things-to/)

[Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/)

> [I consider myself an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-consider-myself-an-independent/)

[Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/)

[Browse all 1,361 Consider quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consider/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Can we consider the universe real, and if so, in what way?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philip K. Dick"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if-so-in-what-way/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Consider"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if-so-in-what-way/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a8/philip-k-dick-502_consider_can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if_161579.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Can we consider the universe real, and if so, in what way?” — Philip K. Dick",
                "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": "Philip K. Dick",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Can we consider the universe real,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if-so-in-what-way/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/can-we-consider-the-universe-real-and-if-so-in-what-way/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
