--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With billions of years, who knows what…" description: "\"With billions of years, who knows what science might make possible? Why, it might even make it possible for an intelligence, or data patterns represent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/robert-j-sawyer-3858_bigs_with-billions-of-years-who-knows-what-sc_1555502.jpg" --- # With billions of years, who knows what science might make… ![“With billions of years, who knows what science might make possible? Why, it might even make it possible for an intelligence, or data patterns representing it, to survive a big crunch and exist again in the next cycle of creation. Such an entity might even have science sufficient to allow it to…” quote by Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/robert-j-sawyer-3858_bigs_with-billions-of-years-who-knows-what-sc_1555502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/robert-j-sawyer-3858_bigs_with-billions-of-years-who-knows-what-sc_1555502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/robert-j-sawyer-3858_bigs_with-billions-of-years-who-knows-what-sc_1555502.jpg) > “With billions of years, who knows what science might make possible? Why, it might even make it possible for an intelligence, or data patterns representing it, to survive a big crunch and exist again in the next cycle of creation. Such an entity might even have science sufficient to allow it to influence the parameters for the next cycle, creating a designer universe into which that entity itself will be reborn already armed with billions of years worth of knowledge and wisdom.” [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) ## 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 speculates that advanced science could enable an intelligence to survive cosmic cycles and shape future universes, turning it into a reborn, knowledgeable creator. **In simple terms:** Science might let an intelligence survive and redesign future universes. Key Takeaway Consider how knowledge could transcend cosmic endings. Themes cosmology future science eternity Mood wonderful speculative thought‑provoking Type philosophical scientific fictional When to use this quote - theoretical physics research - philosophical debates about cosmology - science fiction storytelling - future technology planning Key Concepts survival rebirth designer universe knowledge accumulation Questions to Reflect On - What ethical responsibilities would a reborn intelligence have? - How could we prepare for such far‑future possibilities? A Different Perspective The idea assumes speculative physics that may never be testable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Billions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billions/) [Billions Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billions-years/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Crunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crunch/) [Cycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycles/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Designer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designer/) [Designer Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designer-universe-2840811/) [Entity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entity/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Knowledge and wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-and-wisdom/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Parameters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parameters/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Possible Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-intelligence-2757602/) [Reborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reborn/) [Representing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representing/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficient/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Entity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-entity-5823666/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Any possible universe could be explained as the work of some sort of designer. Even a universe that is completely chaotic...could be supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/any-possible-universe-could-be-explained-as-the-work-of-some-sort-of/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [While it is possible for intelligence to increase the range of benevolent impulse, and thus prompt a human being to consider the needs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/while-it-is-possible-for-intelligence-to-increase-the-range-of/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [I also believe that it is time to begin the fundamental analysis of how we got here, what led us here and what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kay/i-also-believe-that-it-is-time-to-begin-the-fundamental-analysis-of/) [David Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kay/) > [I am deeply impressed with the designer of the universe; I am confident I couldnt have done anywhere near such a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/i-am-deeply-impressed-with-the-designer-of-the-universe-i-am/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [We are nothing but the product of billions of years of molecules coming together and ratcheting up through natural selection, we are composed only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/we-are-nothing-but-the-product-of-billions-of-years-of-molecules/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) > [I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-do-not-fear-death-i-had-been-dead-for-billions-and-billions-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Our Sun is a second- or third-generation star. All of the rocky and metallic material we stand on, the iron in our blood, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/our-sun-is-a-second-or-third-generation-star-all-of-the-rocky-and/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Clearly, unless thinking beings inevitably wipe themselves out soon after developing technology, extraterrestrial intelligence could often be millions or billions of years in advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/clearly-unless-thinking-beings-inevitably-wipe-themselves-out-soon/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [The age of the Earth is a hotly debated issue among evangelicals. Old Earthers believe, like most scientists, that the universe is billions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-geisler/the-age-of-the-earth-is-a-hotly-debated-issue-among-evangelicals-old/) [Norman Geisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-geisler/) > [Whether you understand they evolved over billions of years or believe that a God made them all one afternoon, please be kind to animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/whether-you-understand-they-evolved-over-billions-of-years-or-believe/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am not a creationist as the term is usually understood. I believe that the earth is billions of years old and the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/i-am-not-a-creationist-as-the-term-is-usually-understood-i-believe/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [“Regarding kids who attended church, Beemer found that: Eighty-three percent said their science teachers taught them that the earth was millions or billions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/regarding-kids-who-attended-church-beemer-found-that-eighty-three/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [You need to realize that the galaxy is organized and structured and has been for billions of years, that the life that is out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drunvalo-melchizedek/you-need-to-realize-that-the-galaxy-is-organized-and-structured-and/) [Drunvalo Melchizedek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drunvalo-melchizedek/) > [To defy heredity is to defy billions of years, to defy the first cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/to-defy-heredity-is-to-defy-billions-of-years-to-defy-the-first-cell/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form is therefore highly improbable even to the scale of the billions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-prigogine/the-idea-of-spontaneous-generation-of-life-in-its-present-form-is/) [Ilya Prigogine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-prigogine/) ## More by Robert J. Sawyer > [Naturally, one does not normally discuss plans to commit murder with the intended victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/naturally-one-does-not-normally-discuss-plans-to-commit-murder-with/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Not wanting to die was another universal constant, it seemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/not-wanting-to-die-was-another-universal-constant-it-seemed/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I'm much more interested in writing about the things that engage and enrage me as an adult rather than in wallowing in childhood sorrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-m-much-more-interested-in-writing-about-the-things-that-engage-and/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Our job is not to predict the future. Rather, it's to suggest all the possible futures - so that society can make informed decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/our-job-is-not-to-predict-the-future-rather-it-s-to-suggest-all-the/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [That natural selection can produce changes within a type is disputed by no one, not even the staunchest creationist. But that it can transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/that-natural-selection-can-produce-changes-within-a-type-is-disputed/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“You really did uplift me. You gave me the perspective and point of view and focus I needed to become truly conscious. Without you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/you-really-did-uplift-me-you-gave-me-the-perspective-and-point-of/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I'm often characterized as an optimistic writer, and certainly my 'Neanderthal Parallax' and 'WWW' trilogies shade toward the utopian. I like to think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-m-often-characterized-as-an-optimistic-writer-and-certainly-my/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I started wondering why it is that people line up behind charismatic leaders. It's easy to understand the emergence of a figure who's narcissistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-started-wondering-why-it-is-that-people-line-up-behind-charismatic/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [When you're changing centuries, people get curious about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/when-you-re-changing-centuries-people-get-curious-about-the-future/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Real people are complex, contradictory, and have their own motivations - they can't just be mouthpieces for the writers' point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/real-people-are-complex-contradictory-and-have-their-own-motivations/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“All right,” he said. “Since you asked, Webmind is an emergent quantum-computational system based on a stable null-sigma condensate that resists decoherence thanks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/all-right-he-said-since-you-asked-webmind-is-an-emergent-quantum/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Social progress is a big thing for me. Although science fiction is traditionally concerned with the hard sciences, which is chemistry, physics, and, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/social-progress-is-a-big-thing-for-me-although-science-fiction-is/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Fiction is all about vicarious experiences and getting into other people's heads in a way that no other art form lets you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/fiction-is-all-about-vicarious-experiences-and-getting-into-other/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Secrecy was the problem; transparency the obvious cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/secrecy-was-the-problem-transparency-the-obvious-cure/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I'm a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-m-a-member-of-the-writers-guild-of-america-and-the-writers-guild-of/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) [Explore all 116 Robert J. Sawyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With billions of years, who knows what science might make possible? 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