--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For all that we have done, as a…" description: "\"For all that we have done, as a civilization, as individuals, the universe is not stable, and nor is any single thing within it. Stars consume themselv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/richard-k-morgan-3983_alliances_for-all-that-we-have-done-as-a-civilizat_2120136.jpg" --- # For all that we have done, as a civilization, as… ![“For all that we have done, as a civilization, as individuals, the universe is not stable, and nor is any single thing within it. Stars consume themselves, the universe itself rushes apart, and we ourselves are composed of matter in constant flux. Colonies of cells in temporary alliance…” quote by Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/richard-k-morgan-3983_alliances_for-all-that-we-have-done-as-a-civilizat_2120136.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/richard-k-morgan-3983_alliances_for-all-that-we-have-done-as-a-civilizat_2120136.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3a/richard-k-morgan-3983_alliances_for-all-that-we-have-done-as-a-civilizat_2120136.jpg) > “For all that we have done, as a civilization, as individuals, the universe is not stable, and nor is any single thing within it. Stars consume themselves, the universe itself rushes apart, and we ourselves are composed of matter in constant flux. Colonies of cells in temporary alliance, replicating and decaying and housed within, an incandescent cloud of electrical impulse and precariously stacked carbon code memory. This is reality, this is self knowledge, and the perception of it will, of course, make you dizzy.” [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It highlights the universe’s inherent instability and the fleeting nature of existence, urging humility. **In simple terms:** Everything is temporary and constantly changing. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence and stay adaptable. Themes impermanence cosmos humanity science philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal loss - career transitions - scientific research - environmental policy Key Concepts entropy existentialism systems theory Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing flux affect your choices? - What can you do to thrive amid instability? A Different Perspective Ignoring change leads to stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alliances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alliances/) [Astronomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomy/) [Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon/) [Cells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cells/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Clouds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Colony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colony/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Dizzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dizzy/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Electrical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electrical/) [Flux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flux/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individuals Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-universe-2928046/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-self-1926538/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Temporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporary/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Rushes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-rushes-4321147/) [Universe Stable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-stable-3458771/) ## Related quotes > [“The universe was once conceived as the passive stage upon which the dramatic conflict of human wills was enacted and resolved. Today man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-deren/the-universe-was-once-conceived-as-the-passive-stage-upon-which-the/) [Maya Deren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-deren/) > [“I love people as I meet them one by one. People are just wonderful as individuals. You see the whole universe in their eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-love-people-as-i-meet-them-one-by-one-people-are-just-wonderful-as/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Your imagination must, to some extent, be found in a realm beyond reason because it begins with imagining a future reality: the self that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schoch/your-imagination-must-to-some-extent-be-found-in-a-realm-beyond/) [Richard Schoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schoch/) > [“The fall of humanity was the fall from the actual to the symbolic. Language abstracts us from the real world; keeping us from direct,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-vigorito/the-fall-of-humanity-was-the-fall-from-the-actual-to-the-symbolic/) [Tony Vigorito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-vigorito/) > [We are each the masters of our own reality; when we become self-aware to this: absolutely anything in the world is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-norton/we-are-each-the-masters-of-our-own-reality-when-we-become-self-aware/) [Mike Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-norton/) > [Never say that you can't do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can't be done, no matter how discouraging or harrowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-norton/never-say-that-you-can-t-do-something-or-that-something-seems-2/) [Mike Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-norton/) > [The moment you stop seeking pleasure in worldly things and become true master of yourself, you will experience the essential reality of the Self.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asaram/the-moment-you-stop-seeking-pleasure-in-worldly-things-and-become/) [Asaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asaram/) > [Always remember deep in your heart that all is well and everything is unfolding as it should. There are no mistakes anywhere, at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/always-remember-deep-in-your-heart-that-all-is-well-and-everything-is/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [“Never say that you can't do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can't be done, no matter how discouraging or harrowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-norton/never-say-that-you-can-t-do-something-or-that-something-seems/) [Mike Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-norton/) > [“Perception is reality, and self-image is self-perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tillis-lederman/perception-is-reality-and-self-image-is-self-perception/) [Michelle Tillis Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tillis-lederman/) > [The Self is self-luminous without darkness and light, and is the reality which is self-manifest. Therefore, one should not think of it as this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-self-is-self-luminous-without-darkness-and-light-and-is-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [In the reason that the contrast between the absolute and the relative is so terrible is because we believe so fully in ourselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-the-reason-that-the-contrast-between-the-absolute-and-the-relative/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Your dreams will never come true through some kind of magic. They will become reality only through self confidence, determination, dedication and effort”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/your-dreams-will-never-come-true-through-some-kind-of-magic-they-will/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) > [In the World of Reality there is no self, There is no other-than-self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sengcan/in-the-world-of-reality-there-is-no-self-there-is-no-other-than-self/) [Sengcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sengcan/) > [“The British academic Richard Schoch, in his book The Secrets of Happiness, put it this way: “Your imagination must, to some extent, be found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/the-british-academic-richard-schoch-in-his-book-the-secrets-of/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) ## More by Richard K. Morgan > [“Pull on the new flesh like borrowed gloves and burn your fingers once again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/pull-on-the-new-flesh-like-borrowed-gloves-and-burn-your-fingers-once/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [The way I see it, anyone who's proud of their country is either a thug or just hasn't read enough history yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-anyone-who-s-proud-of-their-country-is-either-a-thug/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“These are pious, clean-living men, worshipping at the temple of their own bodies.” “Hmm. Sounds distinctly erotic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/these-are-pious-clean-living-men-worshipping-at-the-temple-of-their/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [As to the differences between game work and novel writing, well, obviously the former is a lot less lonely - you're in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/as-to-the-differences-between-game-work-and-novel-writing-well/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“ Books — the warm, leather-skinned weight of them in your hands, the way they smelled when you lifted them close to your face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/books-the-warm-leather-skinned-weight-of-them-in-your-hands-the-way/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“In any agenda, political or otherwise, there is a cost to be borne. Always ask what it is, and who will be paying. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/in-any-agenda-political-or-otherwise-there-is-a-cost-to-be-borne/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“... it’s just business, it’s politics, it’s the way of the world, it’s a tough life and that it’s nothing personal. Well, fuck them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/it-s-just-business-it-s-politics-it-s-the-way-of-the-world-it-s-a/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [I've seen 'True Detective' end-to-end at least three times; I'll probably see it again. It is a work of dark brilliance. But if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/i-ve-seen-true-detective-end-to-end-at-least-three-times-i-ll/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“The human eye is a wonderful device,” I quoted from Poems and Other Prevarications absently. “With a little effort, it can fail to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-human-eye-is-a-wonderful-device-i-quoted-from-poems-and-other/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Overhead soft-bellied clouds panic toward the horizon like whales before the harpoon, and the wind runs addict's fingers through the trees that line the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/overhead-soft-bellied-clouds-panic-toward-the-horizon-like-whales/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [Certainly a decade and a half out in the real world, bashing my head against things, probably made me into a more textured writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/certainly-a-decade-and-a-half-out-in-the-real-world-bashing-my-head/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [Take what is offered and that must sometimes be enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/take-what-is-offered-and-that-must-sometimes-be-enough/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [The human eye is a wonderful device. With a little effort, it can fail to see even the most glaring injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/the-human-eye-is-a-wonderful-device-with-a-little-effort-it-can-fail/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Well.” Ringil gave the Throne Eternal captain another brittle little smile. “You know, the thing about fucking is, it’s a lot less wear and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/well-ringil-gave-the-throne-eternal-captain-another-brittle-little/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) > [“Men were like blades, they would all break sooner or later, you included. But you looked around at the men you led, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-k-morgan/men-were-like-blades-they-would-all-break-sooner-or-later-you/) [Richard K. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) [Explore all 116 Richard K. Morgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-k-morgan/) ## More Alliances quotes > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/men-since-the-beginning-of-time-have-sought-peace-military-alliances/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The U.S. always needs an enemy. It comes and goes. Today it is Islam. According to this plan or ideology of the born-again Christians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-jumblatt/the-u-s-always-needs-an-enemy-it-comes-and-goes-today-it-is-islam/) [Walid Jumblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-jumblatt/) > [I would be quite happy to see the Northern Alliance steam across northern Afghanistan and take Kabul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/i-would-be-quite-happy-to-see-the-northern-alliance-steam-across/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [We are very wrong to think that some fault or other can exclude virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/we-are-very-wrong-to-think-that-some-fault-or-other-can-exclude/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Love and friendship, two of life's abiding rewards, are endangered species in Hollywood. People crave both, mistaking alliance for friendship, lust for love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/love-and-friendship-two-of-life-s-abiding-rewards-are-endangered/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [...to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/to-befoul-the-unholy-alliance-between-corrupt-business-and-corrupt/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I prayed for the first time in a very long time today. I explained to God that unless he wanted the Marxist-Islamic alliance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-behring-breivik/i-prayed-for-the-first-time-in-a-very-long-time-today-i-explained-to/) [Anders Behring Breivik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-behring-breivik/) > [You cannot lead an alliance if you say you're going alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-cannot-lead-an-alliance-if-you-say-you-re-going-alone/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it. A great power like the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/an-alliance-is-like-a-chain-it-is-not-made-stronger-by-adding-weak/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/behind-the-ostensible-government-sits-enthroned-an-invisible/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Clearly, gay marriage is on the top of the agenda right now. It's pretty amazing, considering where stuff was at when I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/clearly-gay-marriage-is-on-the-top-of-the-agenda-right-now-it-s/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/america-must-always-be-the-world-s-paramount-military-power-but-we/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [In 1491 the Inka ruled the greatest empire on earth. Bigger than Ming Dynasty China, bigger than Ivan the Great’s expanding Russia, bigger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-c-mann/in-1491-the-inka-ruled-the-greatest-empire-on-earth-bigger-than-ming/) [Charles C. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-c-mann/) > [ I told \[ David Lange\] he was crazy, because you can't have an alliance relationship if you refuse access to their ships. And the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/i-told-david-lange-he-was-crazy-because-you-can-t-have-an-alliance/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) [Browse all 389 Alliances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alliances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For all that we have done, as a civilization, as individuals, the universe is not stable, and nor is any single thing within it. 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