--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If aliens ever visit us, I think the…" description: "\"“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg" --- # If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much… ![“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans.” - Stephen Hawking” quote by Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg) > ““If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans.” - Stephen Hawking”” [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A speculative comparison that alien contact could repeat historic colonization patterns, warning of potential exploitation of indigenous peoples. **In simple terms:** Aliens might repeat history’s mistakes with native populations. Key Takeaway Consider ethical implications of first contact. Themes ethics history colonialism Mood thoughtful cautious Type speculative philosophical When to use this quote - space exploration - policy making - education - cultural preservation Key Concepts speculation warning Questions to Reflect On - How should humanity prepare for potential alien contact? - What safeguards can protect vulnerable cultures? A Different Perspective Assumes alien motives mirror human behavior, which may be inaccurate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Aliens Visit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens-visit-334814/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christopher-columbus/) [Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/columbus/) [Columbus Landed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/columbus-landed-1652253/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Native americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-americans/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-hawking/) ## Related quotes > [“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outcome-would-be-much-as-when/) [stephen hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/if-aliens-visit-us-the-outcome-would-be-much-as-when-columbus-landed/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I'm not encouraged by the silence. 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You discovered something millions of people did before you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-simpson/you-re-like-christopher-columbus-you-discovered-something-millions-of/) [Lisa Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-simpson/) > [And your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians and Princes, devoted to the holy Christian faith and the propagation thereof - and enemies of the sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-your-highnesses-as-catholic-christians-and-princes-devoted-to-the/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) ## More by Rick Yancey > [“Don't you get it yet? 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"What makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-m-one-too-he-said-what-he-spit-a-wad-of-blood-and-mucus-into-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Good God, man, what is that smell?" He eyed with disgust the doctor's filthy cloak. "Life," answered the doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/good-god-man-what-is-that-smell-he-eyed-with-disgust-the-doctor-s/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“He drops into the room, landing on the balls of his feet like a cat. I'm in his arms in the time it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/he-drops-into-the-room-landing-on-the-balls-of-his-feet-like-a-cat-i/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“All things do happen for a reason... . Is this not the foundation of our faith? You are here-all of us-because we are but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/all-things-do-happen-for-a-reason-is-this-not-the-foundation-of-our/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“Her raised his face to the weeping sky, closed his dark eyes, and sighed deeply, a smile playing on his sensuous lips. "The bloody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/her-raised-his-face-to-the-weeping-sky-closed-his-dark-eyes-and/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [To hold on, you have to find something you’re willing to die for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/to-hold-on-you-have-to-find-something-you-re-willing-to-die-for/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [I brought Sammy inside and put him to bed. Said his prayer with him. “‘Now I lay me down to sleep…’” To me, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-brought-sammy-inside-and-put-him-to-bed-said-his-prayer-with-him/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [A moment comes in war when the last line must be crossed. The line that separates what you hold dear from what total war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/a-moment-comes-in-war-when-the-last-line-must-be-crossed-the-line/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) [Explore all 342 Rick Yancey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) ## More Aliens quotes > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-connell/my-days-the-blossom-of-my-youth-and-the-flower-of-my-manhood-have/) [Daniel O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-connell/) > [Ay-firmative,' Eve said, and tried for a smile. 'Sorry. An Aliens reference always makes me feel better at times like this. Exept I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/ay-firmative-eve-said-and-tried-for-a-smile-sorry-an-aliens-reference/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. 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Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. That goes across all genres: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-fan-of-any-genre-but-am-a-fan-of-movies-that-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The respect for human rights, essential if we are to use technology wisely, is not something alien that must be grafted onto science. 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Apparently, too much bike riding or something similar has rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/some-pundits-have-proposed-that-the-aliens-have-come-here-to-breed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) [Browse all 1,329 Aliens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn't turn out very well for the Native Americans.” - Stephen Hawking”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Yancey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outcome-would-be-much-as-when-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aliens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outcome-would-be-much-as-when-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/rick-yancey-831_aliens_if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outc_2237449.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in…” — Rick Yancey", "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": "Rick Yancey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If aliens ever visit us, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outcome-would-be-much-as-when-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/if-aliens-ever-visit-us-i-think-the-outcome-would-be-much-as-when-2/#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 } } ] } ```