--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Long ago man formed an ideal conception…" description: "\"Long ago man formed an ideal conception of omnipotence and omniscience which he embodied in his gods. Whatever seemed unattainable to his desires - or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sigmund-freud-360_conception_long-ago-man-formed-an-ideal-conception_2675129.jpg" --- # Long ago man formed an ideal conception of omnipotence and… ![“Long ago man formed an ideal conception of omnipotence and omniscience which he embodied in his gods. Whatever seemed unattainable to his desires - or forbidden to him - he attributed to these gods... Now he has himself approached very near to realizing this ideal, he has nearly become a god…” quote by Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sigmund-freud-360_conception_long-ago-man-formed-an-ideal-conception_2675129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sigmund-freud-360_conception_long-ago-man-formed-an-ideal-conception_2675129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/sigmund-freud-360_conception_long-ago-man-formed-an-ideal-conception_2675129.jpg) > “Long ago man formed an ideal conception of omnipotence and omniscience which he embodied in his gods. Whatever seemed unattainable to his desires - or forbidden to him - he attributed to these gods... Now he has himself approached very near to realizing this ideal, he has nearly become a god himself.” [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans once projected omnipotence onto gods; now we approach god‑like capabilities, blurring the divine‑human divide. **In simple terms:** We used to see gods as all‑powerful, now we become god‑like. Key Takeaway Recognize responsibility of newfound power. Themes power technology human evolution divinity Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - AI development - genetic engineering - space exploration Key Concepts existentialism philosophy of technology Questions to Reflect On - What ethical frameworks guide our god‑like abilities? - How does this shift affect meaning? A Different Perspective Power can be misused without ethical guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Conception Omnipotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception-omnipotence-2535852/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Forbidden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbidden/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Omnipotence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omnipotence/) [Omnipotence Omniscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omnipotence-omniscience-1245543/) [Omniscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omniscience/) [Omniscience Embodied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/omniscience-embodied-2535854/) [Realizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing/) [Realizing Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing-ideal-2535853/) [Unattainable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unattainable/) ## Related quotes > [“It sounds like a fairy-tale, but not only that; this story of what man by his science and practical inventions has achieved on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/it-sounds-like-a-fairy-tale-but-not-only-that-this-story-of-what-man/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [ “If God did not arrange \[the world\] this way, then there must be an independent factor in the universe. 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