Achievement Quote by Richard Dawkins
“Whether we ever get to know about them or not, there are very probably alien civilizations that are superhuman, to the point of being god-like in ways that exceed anything a theologian could possibly imagine. Their technical achievements would seem as supernatural to us as ours would seem to a Dark Age peasant transported to the twenty-first century. Imagine his response to a laptop computer, a mobile telephone, a hydrogen bomb or a jumbo jet.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Del: A History of Religion, 2006
Speculates that advanced alien societies may appear god‑like, surpassing human theological concepts.
In simple terms: Advanced aliens could seem divine to us.
Key Takeaway
Consider the limits of human imagination about extraterrestrials.
Themes
cosmology
humility
technology
theology
Mood
wonder
cautious
Type
speculative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- space exploration
- science education
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
Fermi paradox
anthropic principle
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would change our view of alien intelligence?
- How do we avoid projecting human myths onto unknown life?
A Different Perspective
Assuming alien motives are benevolent may be naïve.
![“[The kitchen] was also messy--delightfully so, thought Jane--and it didn't look as though lots of cooking went on there. There was a laptop computer on the counter with duck stickers on it, the spice cabinet was full of Ben's toy trucks, and Jane couldn't spot a cookbook anywhere. This is the…” quote by Jeanne Birdsall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec2/jeanne-birdsall-29395_bother_the-kitchen-was-also-messy-delightfully_790842.jpg)
