--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that we are alone in the…" description: "\"The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me completely implausible and arrogant, considering the number of planets and stars that we know ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg" --- # The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me… ![“The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me completely implausible and arrogant, considering the number of planets and stars that we know exist, it's extremely unlikely that we are the only form of evolved life.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg) > “The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me completely implausible and arrogant, considering the number of planets and stars that we know exist, it's extremely unlikely that we are the only form of evolved life.” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The vast number of celestial bodies makes it improbable that Earth hosts the sole intelligent life, implying humility about our uniqueness. **In simple terms:** Many planets make exclusive life unlikely. Key Takeaway Consider the possibility of other life forms. Themes humility cosmos science Mood wonder reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - space exploration - education - philosophical debates - science communication Key Concepts probability astrobiology anthropic principle Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would change your view? - How does this affect human responsibility? A Different Perspective Our knowledge is limited; we may never find evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/) [Completely Implausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completely-implausible-1756177/) [Considering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considering/) [Extremely Unlikely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremely-unlikely-281055/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Implausible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implausible/) [Implausible Arrogant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implausible-arrogant-1756179/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Completely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-completely-1756178/) [Unlikely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlikely/) ## Related quotes > [Reading 'Youth in Revolt' might have ruined my career because suddenly I wanted to abandon all the emotional truth of something and just go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/reading-youth-in-revolt-might-have-ruined-my-career-because-suddenly/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [I think it's extremely unlikely that the European Union will fracture with nations dropping off the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/i-think-it-s-extremely-unlikely-that-the-european-union-will-fracture/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [If you don't work very hard, it is extremely unlikely that you will be a good trader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-kovner/if-you-don-t-work-very-hard-it-is-extremely-unlikely-that-you-will-be/) [Bruce Kovner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-kovner/) > [“He decided not to try to pin her down on that; he had a feeling it was one he wouldn’t win. He hadn’t known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hooper/he-decided-not-to-try-to-pin-her-down-on-that-he-had-a-feeling-it-was/) [Kay Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hooper/) > [The universe is completely balanced and in perfect order. You will always be compensated for everything that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-universe-is-completely-balanced-and-in-perfect-order-you-will/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [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/) > [“To Taoism that which is absolutely still or absolutely perfect is absolutely dead, for without the possibility of growth and change there can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/to-taoism-that-which-is-absolutely-still-or-absolutely-perfect-is/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [One could say: "The boundary condition of the universe is that it has no boundary." The universe would be completely self-contained and not affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-could-say-the-boundary-condition-of-the-universe-is-that-it-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You cannot describe the universe completely with any accuracy unless you're willing to admit that it's both physical and mental in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-langan/you-cannot-describe-the-universe-completely-with-any-accuracy-unless/) [Christopher Langan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-langan/) > [But a machine that was powerful enough to accelerate particles to the grand unification energy would have to be as big as the Solar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/but-a-machine-that-was-powerful-enough-to-accelerate-particles-to-the/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Our minds work in real time, which begins at the Big Bang and will end, if there is a Big Crunch - which seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/our-minds-work-in-real-time-which-begins-at-the-big-bang-and-will-end/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [More often than not, real life is so rich, complex and unpredictable that it would seem completely implausible in the pages of a novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-millard/more-often-than-not-real-life-is-so-rich-complex-and-unpredictable/) [Candice Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-millard/) > [Some of the ideas that come from the fringe of the far right are just so implausible that it is hard to take those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/some-of-the-ideas-that-come-from-the-fringe-of-the-far-right-are-just/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [“Debbie Nathan blames the early symptoms on pernicious anemia yet explains their supposed remission by Shirley’s being out of contact with Dr. Wilbur for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/debbie-nathan-blames-the-early-symptoms-on-pernicious-anemia-yet/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > [My friend, the truth is always implausible, did you know that? To make the truth more plausible, it's absolutely necessary to mix a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friend-the-truth-is-always-implausible-did-you-know-that-to-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stephen Hawking > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-are-the-product-of-quantum-fluctuations-in-the-very-early-universe/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race does not have a very good record of intelligent behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-does-not-have-a-very-good-record-of-intelligent/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“We have finally found something that doesn’t have a cause, because there was no time for a cause to exist in. For me this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-have-finally-found-something-that-doesn-t-have-a-cause-because/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [ \[On President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years\] Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/on-president-bush-s-plan-to-get-to-mars-in-10-years-stupid-robots/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-believe-the-simplest-explanation-is-there-is-no-god-no-one-created/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The Paralympic Games is about transforming our perception of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-paralympic-games-is-about-transforming-our-perception-of-the-world/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The increase of disorder or entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-increase-of-disorder-or-entropy-is-what-distinguishes-the-past/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Most sets of values would give rise to universes that, although they might be very beautiful, would contain no one able to wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/most-sets-of-values-would-give-rise-to-universes-that-although-they/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/there-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-religion-which-is-based-on/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“In the eighteenth century, philosophers considered the whole of human knowledge, including science, to be their field and discussed questions such as: Did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/in-the-eighteenth-century-philosophers-considered-the-whole-of-human/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [A model is a good model if first it interprets a wide range of observations in terms of a simple and elegant model, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/a-model-is-a-good-model-if-first-it-interprets-a-wide-range-of/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“Empedocles noticed that if you cover the neck before you immerse it, a clepsydra does not fill. He reasoned that something invisible must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/empedocles-noticed-that-if-you-cover-the-neck-before-you-immerse-it-a/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Let's hope we can avoid dropping the basket until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-shouldn-t-have-all-its-eggs-in-one-basket-or-on-one/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I hope I have helped to raise the profile of science and to show that physics is not a mystery but can be understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-hope-i-have-helped-to-raise-the-profile-of-science-and-to-show-that/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) [Explore all 601 Stephen Hawking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## More Arrogant quotes > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/) [Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [In politics we face the choice between warmongering, nation-state loving, big-business agents on one hand; and risk-blind, top-down, epistemic arrogant big servants of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-politics-we-face-the-choice-between-warmongering-nation-state/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I absolutely hate arrogant people, irks me to no end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-absolutely-hate-arrogant-people-irks-me-to-no-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Mourinho is a bit arrogant, but you've got to like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nicol/mourinho-is-a-bit-arrogant-but-you-ve-got-to-like-him/) [Steve Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nicol/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [I was spoiled and I was arrogant. I was very demanding, had an overblown image of who I was and got a reputation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/i-was-spoiled-and-i-was-arrogant-i-was-very-demanding-had-an/) [Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/) > [We are not being arrogant or complacent when we are said that our country, as a united nation, has never in its entire history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-not-being-arrogant-or-complacent-when-we-are-said-that-our/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/so-you-intend-to-go-through-life-never-loving-anyone-just-things-no-i/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [People are tired of wasteful government programs and welfare chiselers, and they are angry about the constant spiral of taxes and government regulations, arrogant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/people-are-tired-of-wasteful-government-programs-and-welfare/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“He was a man. Handsome as sin, arrogant as fuck, and in need of at least one woman to prove he wasn’t God’s gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-blue/he-was-a-man-handsome-as-sin-arrogant-as-fuck-and-in-need-of-at-least/) [Melissa Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-blue/) > [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's amusing how arrogant people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amusing-how-arrogant-people-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,146 Arrogant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me completely implausible and arrogant, considering the number of planets and stars that we know exist, it's extremely unlikely that we are the only form of evolved life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Hawking" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-universe-seems-to-me-completely/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arrogant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-universe-seems-to-me-completely/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/stephen-hawking-389_arrogant_the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-univer_2578403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The idea that we are alone in the universe seems to me completely implausible and arrogant, considering the…” — Stephen Hawking", "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": "Stephen Hawking", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The idea that we are alone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-universe-seems-to-me-completely/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-idea-that-we-are-alone-in-the-universe-seems-to-me-completely/#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 } } ] } ```