--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we knew exactly what to expect…" description: "\"If we knew exactly what to expect throughout the Solar System, we would have no reason to explore it.\" — Poul Anderson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png" --- # If we knew exactly what to expect throughout the Solar… ![“If we knew exactly what to expect throughout the Solar System, we would have no reason to explore it.” quote by Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png) > “If we knew exactly what to expect throughout the Solar System, we would have no reason to explore it.” [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Predictable certainty would remove the drive to explore, suggesting curiosity thrives on the unknown. **In simple terms:** Exploration needs mystery. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty to fuel discovery. Themes exploration curiosity uncertainty Mood inquisitive optimistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - space travel - research - innovation Key Concepts philosophy of science human drive Questions to Reflect On - What unknowns inspire you to explore? - How can you cultivate curiosity in routine life? A Different Perspective Too much certainty can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Solar system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-system/) ## Related quotes > [“Approachable people are “straight-up.” It is comforting to know exactly what to expect when you see them. What you see is what you get!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/approachable-people-are-straight-up-it-is-comforting-to-know-exactly/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Well, Michael, we will be telling the people of Australia in good time before the next election exactly what they can expect from us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/well-michael-we-will-be-telling-the-people-of-australia-in-good-time/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [All of this got me thinking about the history of the westward expansion, and got me to wondering how the exploration of the Solar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/all-of-this-got-me-thinking-about-the-history-of-the-westward/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Once solved, the severe handicaps imposed on space exploration by the weight and chemical limitations of rockets would no longer apply. The whole timetable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-a-wollheim/once-solved-the-severe-handicaps-imposed-on-space-exploration-by-the/) [Donald A. 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We’re trapped”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/yes-they-spread-out-to-cover-the-entire-solar-system-we-re-trapped/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Then, I realized that there is an indigenous presence in the Solar System. It's us. So, then, I got to wondering what would happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/then-i-realized-that-there-is-an-indigenous-presence-in-the-solar/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [A tiny blue dot set in a sunbeam. Here it is. That's where we live. That's home. We humans are one species and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/a-tiny-blue-dot-set-in-a-sunbeam-here-it-is-that-s-where-we-live-that/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [It used to be said that Pluto is a misfit. But now we know Earth is the misfit. 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More significantly can one say that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/no-one-it-has-been-said-will-ever-look-at-the-moon-in-the-same-way/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [To settle space, we will have to develop the ability to harvest and utilize the resources of the solar system, such as ores, ice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-tumlinson/to-settle-space-we-will-have-to-develop-the-ability-to-harvest-and/) [Rick Tumlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-tumlinson/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Poul Anderson > [Heaven is not as narrowly literal-minded as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/heaven-is-not-as-narrowly-literal-minded-as-hell/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“I’ve yet to see any problem, however complicated, which when you looked at it the right way didn’t become still more complicated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/i-ve-yet-to-see-any-problem-however-complicated-which-when-you-looked/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [Happier are all men than the dwellers in Faerie – or the gods, for that matter…Better a life like a falling star, bright across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/happier-are-all-men-than-the-dwellers-in-faerie-or-the-gods-for-that/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [He had seen too much of the cosmos to have any great faith in man's ability to understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/he-had-seen-too-much-of-the-cosmos-to-have-any-great-faith-in-man-s/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“Happier are all men than the beings of faerie – or the gods, for that matter,’ he said. ‘Better a life like a falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/happier-are-all-men-than-the-beings-of-faerie-or-the-gods-for-that/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [Colonization means potential immortality for the human genus. Man's safety on Earth was never great, and it dwindles hourly. Disarmament, even world government, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/colonization-means-potential-immortality-for-the-human-genus-man-s/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“And if you were not trained, the lesser members of the galaxy that had become visible were so many as to drown the familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/and-if-you-were-not-trained-the-lesser-members-of-the-galaxy-that-had/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“Survivor—under what conditions?” “Any conditions. Adaptability, toughness, quickness—those are the things that count most.” “I think kindness means a lot,” said Sheila timidly. “It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/survivor-under-what-conditions-any-conditions-adaptability-toughness/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [A fanatic's willingness to kill or be killed in the service of a cause cannot prove the rightness of that cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/a-fanatic-s-willingness-to-kill-or-be-killed-in-the-service-of-a/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“You simply do not understand the human condition,” said the robot. Hah! Do you think you do, you conceited hunk of animated tin?” Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/you-simply-do-not-understand-the-human-condition-said-the-robot-hah/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [So much American science fiction is parochial -- not as true now as it was years ago, but the assumption is one culture in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/so-much-american-science-fiction-is-parochial-not-as-true-now-as-it/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [Better a life like a falling star, brief bright across the dark, than the long, long waiting of the immortals, loveless and cheerlessly wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/better-a-life-like-a-falling-star-brief-bright-across-the-dark-than/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“And the Milky Way belted heaven with ice and silver, and the Magellanic Clouds were not vague shimmers but roiling and glowing; and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/and-the-milky-way-belted-heaven-with-ice-and-silver-and-the/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [Machines can only find what ignorant men have programmed them to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/machines-can-only-find-what-ignorant-men-have-programmed-them-to-find/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“he claimed to be one of the last true conservatives—only, to conserve, you had to prune and graft and adjust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/he-claimed-to-be-one-of-the-last-true-conservatives-only-to-conserve/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) [Explore all 58 Poul Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) ## More Exactly quotes > [Once you stop looking for what you what you find exactly what you need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia/once-you-stop-looking-for-what-you-what-you-find-exactly-what-you-need/) [Cynthia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia/) > [“My life had gone right; it had gone exactly as it needed to in order to bring me here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-harbison/my-life-had-gone-right-it-had-gone-exactly-as-it-needed-to-in-order/) [Beth Harbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-harbison/) > [Frank Lampard was exactly the sort of player I wanted to be when I was growing up, I used to watch everything he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/frank-lampard-was-exactly-the-sort-of-player-i-wanted-to-be-when-i/) [Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/) > [Everyone in Life does Exactly what they Know How to Do Given the Conditions of their Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/everyone-in-life-does-exactly-what-they-know-how-to-do-given-the/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [My views line up with Mick Mulvaney's views pretty much exactly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-norman/my-views-line-up-with-mick-mulvaney-s-views-pretty-much-exactly/) [Ralph Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-norman/) > [It's more common than not that bipolar illness will start in the teens. One of the reasons I spend a lot of time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/it-s-more-common-than-not-that-bipolar-illness-will-start-in-the/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [I don't exactly relate to grey characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-kay-menon/i-don-t-exactly-relate-to-grey-characters/) [Kay Kay Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-kay-menon/) > [“I know not who I am, simply that I am forever becoming exactly what I am meant to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-lee/i-know-not-who-i-am-simply-that-i-am-forever-becoming-exactly-what-i/) [Becca Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-lee/) > [I like shoes that are definitive, and they know exactly what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-tucker/i-like-shoes-that-are-definitive-and-they-know-exactly-what-they-are/) [P. J. Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-tucker/) > [Everything in your dream means exactly what you think it means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-ingerman/everything-in-your-dream-means-exactly-what-you-think-it-means/) [Sandra Ingerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-ingerman/) > [While sleep is clearly vital to emotional well-being, what is it, exactly, about sleep that is so necessary? As it turns out, mood disorders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/while-sleep-is-clearly-vital-to-emotional-well-being-what-is-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Not exactly what the world was looking for, a musical on 'Don Quixote.' It was required reading in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-leigh/not-exactly-what-the-world-was-looking-for-a-musical-on-don-quixote/) [Mitch Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-leigh/) > [I am repeatedly asked in interviews exactly 'what's wrong' with me, and I always give them the same answer; I don't identify the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/i-am-repeatedly-asked-in-interviews-exactly-what-s-wrong-with-me-and/) [Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [The American people are free to do exactly what they are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-churchill/the-american-people-are-free-to-do-exactly-what-they-are-told/) [Ward Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-churchill/) Browse all 1,121 Exactly quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we knew exactly what to expect throughout the Solar System, we would have no reason to explore it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Poul Anderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throughout-the-solar-system-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exactly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throughout-the-solar-system-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/poul-anderson-11424_exactly_if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throug_384346.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we knew exactly what to expect throughout the Solar System, we would have no reason to explore it.” — Poul Anderson", "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": "Poul Anderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we knew exactly what to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throughout-the-solar-system-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/if-we-knew-exactly-what-to-expect-throughout-the-solar-system-we/#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 } } ] } ```