--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if…" description: "\"Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been vaporized billions of years ago by cantankerous Klingons - there would still be (somewhat lower) ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/seth-shostak-2047_been_even-if-the-moon-didn-t-exist-even-if-it_1595260.png" --- # Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been… ![“Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been vaporized billions of years ago by cantankerous Klingons - there would still be (somewhat lower) tides raised by the Sun. For creatures dependent on the oceans' ebb and flow, life could go on.” quote by Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/seth-shostak-2047_been_even-if-the-moon-didn-t-exist-even-if-it_1595260.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/seth-shostak-2047_been_even-if-the-moon-didn-t-exist-even-if-it_1595260.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/seth-shostak-2047_been_even-if-the-moon-didn-t-exist-even-if-it_1595260.png) > “Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been vaporized billions of years ago by cantankerous Klingons - there would still be (somewhat lower) tides raised by the Sun. For creatures dependent on the oceans' ebb and flow, life could go on.” [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Sun alone can generate tides, though weaker, so ocean‑dependent life would persist without the Moon. **In simple terms:** Sun tides are weaker but enough for life. Key Takeaway Recognize alternative forces sustaining ecosystems. Themes astronomy physics ecology Mood curious analytical Type scientific educational When to use this quote - marine biology - exoplanet habitability - climate modeling Key Concepts tidal forces planetary science Questions to Reflect On - How would life adapt to weaker tidal cycles? - What other celestial bodies could influence tides? A Different Perspective If the Sun's output varied, tidal stability could be compromised. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ebb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ebb/) [Ebb and flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ebb-and-flow/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Oceans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oceans/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) ## Related quotes > [When Kennedy said, 'Let's go to the moon,' we didn't yet have a vehicle that wouldn't kill you on launch. He said we'll land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-kennedy-said-let-s-go-to-the-moon-we-didn-t-yet-have-a-vehicle/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Damn I really did it. I blew the first words on the moon, didn't I?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/damn-i-really-did-it-i-blew-the-first-words-on-the-moon-didn-t-i/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [I rode all day. I cried all night. The moon didn’t glow. The sun didn’t rise. A comet blazed Between my eyes. West and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/i-rode-all-day-i-cried-all-night-the-moon-didn-t-glow-the-sun-didn-t/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [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/) > [Paper Moon didn't bring me love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatum-o-neal/paper-moon-didn-t-bring-me-love/) [Tatum O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatum-o-neal/) > [We knew it was going to be difficult to get to the moon. We didn't know how difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bean/we-knew-it-was-going-to-be-difficult-to-get-to-the-moon-we-didn-t/) [Alan Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bean/) > [Darling," he said distractedly,"about the moon..." "Yes?" "I don't think it matters whether you want it or not." "What are you talking about?" "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/darling-he-said-distractedly-about-the-moon-yes-i-don-t-think-it/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Is E.T. out there? Well, I work at the SETI Institute. That's almost my name. SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. In other words, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/is-e-t-out-there-well-i-work-at-the-seti-institute-that-s-almost-my/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [If gravity were somewhat stronger or weaker, stars wouldn't exist, and neither would you. And the same can be said of other constants of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/if-gravity-were-somewhat-stronger-or-weaker-stars-wouldn-t-exist-and/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [As in nature, all is ebb and tide, all is wave motion, so it seems that in all branches of industry, alternating currents -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/as-in-nature-all-is-ebb-and-tide-all-is-wave-motion-so-it-seems-that/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [I love so much what I do that I spend so much time thinking about it, and then I go home, and then I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-love-so-much-what-i-do-that-i-spend-so-much-time-thinking-about-it/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [There has been an ebb and flow in enterprise IT of centralized versus distributed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-levine/there-has-been-an-ebb-and-flow-in-enterprise-it-of-centralized-versus/) [Peter Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-levine/) > [Of course, like all organic processes, there is an ebb and a flow to writing. One does not exist without the other. The writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/of-course-like-all-organic-processes-there-is-an-ebb-and-a-flow-to/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [I think there is always an ebb and flow in Hollywood about what is current.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-r-white/i-think-there-is-always-an-ebb-and-flow-in-hollywood-about-what-is/) [David A. R. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-r-white/) > [There's never any ebb in human misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/there-s-never-any-ebb-in-human-misery/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) ## More by Seth Shostak > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Some pundits have proposed that the aliens have come here to breed with us. 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/) > [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Give consideration to the fact that alien astronomers could have scrutinized Earth for more than 4 billion years without detecting any radio signals, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/give-consideration-to-the-fact-that-alien-astronomers-could-have/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [In a movie, it's often important to have aliens whose gestures and facial expressions can be 'read' by humans. And in the days before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/in-a-movie-it-s-often-important-to-have-aliens-whose-gestures-and/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Sure, nobody will make a fortune if we figure out why the Big Bang happened. But just about everyone would like to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/sure-nobody-will-make-a-fortune-if-we-figure-out-why-the-big-bang/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [If you could drive straight down, into a tunnel bored through the crust of the planet, you'd hit this molten mess in about an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/if-you-could-drive-straight-down-into-a-tunnel-bored-through-the/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [While I have always thought that the motivation for looking for E.T. was both self-evident and patently worthy, it's possible that I'm a victim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/while-i-have-always-thought-that-the-motivation-for-looking-for-e-t/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [I studied Latin in high school, and I was reading stuff from Cicero. And that signal took a few thousand years to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/i-studied-latin-in-high-school-and-i-was-reading-stuff-from-cicero/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [About the only things that are unique to Earth are our biota and our culture. If aliens ever come here, they'd most likely be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/about-the-only-things-that-are-unique-to-earth-are-our-biota-and-our/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [This plucky NASA telescope is able to find planets en masse. If you compare planet hunting to prospecting for gold, then Kepler is equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/this-plucky-nasa-telescope-is-able-to-find-planets-en-masse-if-you/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [The most attractive habitats for synthetic sentience might be the vicinities of exceptional sources of energy - for example black holes, or even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/the-most-attractive-habitats-for-synthetic-sentience-might-be-the/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Buying insurance is no one's idea of fun. And it's especially easy to berate something as funky-sounding as writing checks to defend our neighborhoods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/buying-insurance-is-no-one-s-idea-of-fun-and-it-s-especially-easy-to/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Plate tectonics is not all havoc and destruction. The slow movement of continents and ocean floors recycles carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/plate-tectonics-is-not-all-havoc-and-destruction-the-slow-movement-of/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) [Explore all 189 Seth Shostak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. 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It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) Browse all 13,699 Been quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even if the Moon didn't exist - even if it had been vaporized billions of years ago by cantankerous Klingons - there would still be (somewhat lower) tides raised by the Sun. 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