--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We only have to look at ourselves to see…" description: "\"We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldnt want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/019/stephen-hawking-389_alien-life_we-only-have-to-look-at-ourselves-to-see_1253530.jpg" --- # We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent… ![“We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldnt want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and…” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/019/stephen-hawking-389_alien-life_we-only-have-to-look-at-ourselves-to-see_1253530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/019/stephen-hawking-389_alien-life_we-only-have-to-look-at-ourselves-to-see_1253530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/019/stephen-hawking-389_alien-life_we-only-have-to-look-at-ourselves-to-see_1253530.jpg) > “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldnt want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach,” [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. Advanced civilizations may become resource‑draining nomads, posing existential threats. **In simple terms:** Aliens could become dangerous wanderers. Key Takeaway Consider long‑term planetary stewardship. Themes science future existential risk Mood cautious thought‑provoking Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - space exploration - environmental policy - technology development Key Concepts astrophysics resource depletion colonization anthropocentrism Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can humanity implement? - How do we balance exploration with conservation? A Different Perspective Assuming alien motives is speculative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alien life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien-life/) [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Intelligent life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nomad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nomad/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [I believe alien life is quite common in the universe, although intelligent life is less so. Some say it has yet to appear on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-believe-alien-life-is-quite-common-in-the-universe-although/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“The problem with ID, of course, is that it leaves open the possibility that the intelligence behind nature may have a moral interest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-klinghoffer/the-problem-with-id-of-course-is-that-it-leaves-open-the-possibility/) [David Klinghoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-klinghoffer/) > [“We don't know how to communicate meaningfully with chimpanzees. Assessing the effort we invest in trying to get big brained mammals to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-don-t-know-how-to-communicate-meaningfully-with-chimpanzees/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“We, of all the beings that we know of, can think. We can eat, write, build, save. We can predict, estimate, and count. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarun-betala/we-of-all-the-beings-that-we-know-of-can-think-we-can-eat-write-build/) [Tarun Betala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarun-betala/) > [“We imagine we will colonize other planets, but we have barely probed this one. We have yet to find a lifeless place on Earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-dunn/we-imagine-we-will-colonize-other-planets-but-we-have-barely-probed/) [Rob Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-dunn/) > [To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/to-my-mathematical-brain-the-numbers-alone-make-thinking-about-aliens/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Of course it is possible that UFO's really do contain aliens as many people believe, and the government is hushing it up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/of-course-it-is-possible-that-ufo-s-really-do-contain-aliens-as-many/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-only-have-to-look-at-ourselves-to-see-how-intelligent-life-might-3/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“…only in the few universes that are like ours would intelligent beings develop and ask the question: “Why is the universe the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/only-in-the-few-universes-that-are-like-ours-would-intelligent-beings/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Only man is a narcissistic enough species to think that a highly evolved alien life force would travel across billions and billions of light-years-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/only-man-is-a-narcissistic-enough-species-to-think-that-a-highly/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [First and foremost, The Quiet Invasion is a first contact story. What would we do if we actually found evidence of alien life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/first-and-foremost-the-quiet-invasion-is-a-first-contact-story-what/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [If we wish to influence our own life in a particular direction, which is constantly threatened by the danger of the emergence of alien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-schauberger/if-we-wish-to-influence-our-own-life-in-a-particular-direction-which/) [Viktor Schauberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-schauberger/) > [I've been asked about UFOs and I've said publicly I thought they were somebody else, some other civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-ve-been-asked-about-ufos-and-i-ve-said-publicly-i-thought-they-were/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [“The journey of a thousands suns begins today. Some may question whether the journey is worth the sacrifice and danger. To them I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-marusek/the-journey-of-a-thousands-suns-begins-today-some-may-question/) [David Marusek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-marusek/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. 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/) ## 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 Alien life quotes > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. 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/) > [“The journey of a thousands suns begins today. Some may question whether the journey is worth the sacrifice and danger. To them I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-marusek/the-journey-of-a-thousands-suns-begins-today-some-may-question/) [David Marusek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-marusek/) > [I've been asked about UFOs and I've said publicly I thought they were somebody else, some other civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-ve-been-asked-about-ufos-and-i-ve-said-publicly-i-thought-they-were/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/to-my-mathematical-brain-the-numbers-alone-make-thinking-about-aliens/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [If we wish to influence our own life in a particular direction, which is constantly threatened by the danger of the emergence of alien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-schauberger/if-we-wish-to-influence-our-own-life-in-a-particular-direction-which/) [Viktor Schauberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-schauberger/) > [First and foremost, The Quiet Invasion is a first contact story. What would we do if we actually found evidence of alien life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/first-and-foremost-the-quiet-invasion-is-a-first-contact-story-what/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Only man is a narcissistic enough species to think that a highly evolved alien life force would travel across billions and billions of light-years-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/only-man-is-a-narcissistic-enough-species-to-think-that-a-highly/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [“Something clicked inside Ortez mind, like the bolt of a door latch being released. Man’s first encounter with sentient alien life was a disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/something-clicked-inside-ortez-mind-like-the-bolt-of-a-door-latch/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [“Oz had access to information the rest of the world didn't know existed. His dad was the director of an organization called CHAOS-Central Headquarters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-s-lewis/oz-had-access-to-information-the-rest-of-the-world-didn-t-know/) [Jon S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-s-lewis/) > [“(An artist coworker of mine once asked whether alien life forms from Europa would be called Europeans. The absence of any other plausible answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/an-artist-coworker-of-mine-once-asked-whether-alien-life-forms-from/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Of course it is possible that UFO's really do contain aliens as many people believe, and the government is hushing it up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/of-course-it-is-possible-that-ufo-s-really-do-contain-aliens-as-many/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I was testing a P-51 fighter in Minneapolis when I spotted this object. I was at about 10,000 feet on a nice, bright, sunny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-slayton/i-was-testing-a-p-51-fighter-in-minneapolis-when-i-spotted-this/) [Deke Slayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-slayton/) > [“The Frankenstein myth confronts Homo Sapiens with the fact that the last days are fast approaching. Unless some nuclear or ecological catastrophe intervenes, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-frankenstein-myth-confronts-homo-sapiens-with-the-fact-that-the/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [There's so much interest and curiosity about alien life, interstellar travel. It's always in the news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/there-s-so-much-interest-and-curiosity-about-alien-life-interstellar/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [What we want is another sample of life, which is not on our tree of life at all. All life that we've studied so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/what-we-want-is-another-sample-of-life-which-is-not-on-our-tree-of/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) [Browse all 38 Alien life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldnt want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. 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