--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We’re not the greatest thing in the…" description: "\"“We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly not the smartest. Seems logical there’d be a great many things in it we can’t comprehend.”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-neuvel-42275_great-man_we-re-not-the-greatest-thing-in-the-univ_29851.jpg" --- # We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly… ![“We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly not the smartest. Seems logical there’d be a great many things in it we can’t comprehend.” quote by Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-neuvel-42275_great-man_we-re-not-the-greatest-thing-in-the-univ_29851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-neuvel-42275_great-man_we-re-not-the-greatest-thing-in-the-univ_29851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-neuvel-42275_great-man_we-re-not-the-greatest-thing-in-the-univ_29851.jpg) > ““We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly not the smartest. Seems logical there’d be a great many things in it we can’t comprehend.”” [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans are modest in cosmic scale, acknowledging our limited intelligence and the vast unknowns beyond our grasp. **In simple terms:** Human humility before the cosmos Key Takeaway We are not the pinnacle of existence Themes humility cosmic perspective knowledge limits anthropic bias Mood wonder humility Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - philosophical discourse - science education - space exploration debates Key Concepts human cognition universe complexity Practical Applications - stimulating curiosity about unknown phenomena - encouraging interdisciplinary research Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing our limits affect scientific ambition? - What responsibilities arise from acknowledging our ignorance? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [Observe the forms and beauties of sensible things and comprehend the Word of God in them. If you do so, the truth will reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-scotus-eriugena/observe-the-forms-and-beauties-of-sensible-things-and-comprehend-the/) [Johannes Scotus Eriugena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-scotus-eriugena/) > [Sometimes we go through things that we may never comprehend, but we just have to trust God that in the end it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-go-through-things-that-we-may-never-comprehend-but-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“we don’t like things that we cannot comprehend well or control.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-agus/we-don-t-like-things-that-we-cannot-comprehend-well-or-control/) [David B. Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-agus/) > [By means of corporal and temporal things we may comprehend the eternal and the spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/by-means-of-corporal-and-temporal-things-we-may-comprehend-the/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Even if I knew nothing of the atoms, I would venture to assert on the evidence of the celestial phenomena themselves, supported by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/even-if-i-knew-nothing-of-the-atoms-i-would-venture-to-assert-on-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [When you tug at a single thing in the universe, you'll find its attached to everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-you-tug-at-a-single-thing-in-the-universe-you-ll-find-its/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The cool thing about the universe is that it can format itself into tiny little manifestations that are not entirely aware of all aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-cool-thing-about-the-universe-is-that-it-can-format-itself-into/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“This is the greatest damn thing about the universe. That we can know so much, recognize so much, dissect, do everything, and we can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/this-is-the-greatest-damn-thing-about-the-universe-that-we-can-know/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [You know you're putting a good thing out into the universe when you put on glitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/you-know-you-re-putting-a-good-thing-out-into-the-universe-when-you/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“The best thing the universe ever gave us is that we'll all be forgotten”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-sutherland/the-best-thing-the-universe-ever-gave-us-is-that-we-ll-all-be/) [Krystal Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-sutherland/) > [“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING N THE UNIVERSE IS LIGTH”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-santi/the-most-important-thing-n-the-universe-is-ligth/) [DAVE SANTI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-santi/) > [“Every damn thing in the universe can be broken down into smaller things, even atoms, even protons, so theoretically speaking, I guess you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/every-damn-thing-in-the-universe-can-be-broken-down-into-smaller/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“but there comes a point I’m afraid where you begin to suspect that if there’s any real truth, it’s that the entire multidimensional infinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/but-there-comes-a-point-i-m-afraid-where-you-begin-to-suspect-that-if/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Endure pain, find joy, and make your own meaning, because the universe certainly isn't going to supply it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/endure-pain-find-joy-and-make-your-own-meaning-because-the-universe/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [I've always thought of faith as an acknowledgment of not being the biggest thing in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dwane/i-ve-always-thought-of-faith-as-an-acknowledgment-of-not-being-the/) [Ted Dwane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dwane/) ## More by Sylvain Neuvel > [“Go home and tell your family you love them. Tell them ten times, a hundred times. Do it while you can. And if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/go-home-and-tell-your-family-you-love-them-tell-them-ten-times-a/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“I may believe in God, but I'm at war with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/i-may-believe-in-god-but-i-m-at-war-with-him/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“The known is finite, the unknown infinite; intellectually we stand on an islet in the midst of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability. Our business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/the-known-is-finite-the-unknown-infinite-intellectually-we-stand-on/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“If I grab a bunch of matter, anywhere, and I organize it in exactly the same way, I get…you. You, my friend, are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/if-i-grab-a-bunch-of-matter-anywhere-and-i-organize-it-in-exactly-the/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“Scientists are like children: They always want to know everything, they all ask too many questions, and they never follow orders to the letter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/scientists-are-like-children-they-always-want-to-know-everything-they/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“I think people are scared, and dumb, and selfish on their own, but put enough of them together and they'll be half-decent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/i-think-people-are-scared-and-dumb-and-selfish-on-their-own-but-put/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“Vincent: "Rose, we can't fight this guy." Rose: "Can you..." Vincent: "Kara, what are you doing?" Rose: "What's going on?" Vincent: "Kara's... engaging in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/vincent-rose-we-can-t-fight-this-guy-rose-can-you-vincent-kara-what/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“We wouldn't really see anything at night, from this altitude, but it still felt good, like a layover in Paris. You never leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/we-wouldn-t-really-see-anything-at-night-from-this-altitude-but-it/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [“If you are a scientist you believe that it is good to find out how the world works; that it is good to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/if-you-are-a-scientist-you-believe-that-it-is-good-to-find-out-how/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) [Explore all 10 Sylvain Neuvel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) ## More Great man quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Football is a team sport. I'm proud of what I achieved in my career, but I also know that I wouldn't have achieved any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/football-is-a-team-sport-i-m-proud-of-what-i-achieved-in-my-career/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [My father was a really great man. I'll never forget the last thing he ever said to me. Nor will I ever repeat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-hall/my-father-was-a-really-great-man-i-ll-never-forget-the-last-thing-he/) [John S. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-hall/) > [To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/to-vilify-a-great-man-is-the-readiest-way-in-which-a-little-man-can/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [“The effects of the division of labour, in the general business of society, will be more easily understood by considering in what manner it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-effects-of-the-division-of-labour-in-the-general-business-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Greatness by nature includes a power, but not a will to power. ... The great man, whether we comprehend him in the most intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/greatness-by-nature-includes-a-power-but-not-a-will-to-power-the/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [A great man isn't the one who can show all his greatness, but great man is the one who can show his Humility upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-great-man-isn-t-the-one-who-can-show-all-his-greatness-but-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But the mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/but-the-mark-of-a-great-man-is-one-who-knows-when-to-set-aside-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [It's awfully hard to be the son of a great man and also of a half-crazy woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/it-s-awfully-hard-to-be-the-son-of-a-great-man-and-also-of-a-half/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [We expect a great man to be a good reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-expect-a-great-man-to-be-a-good-reader/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nature never sends a great man into the planet, without confiding the secret to another soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-never-sends-a-great-man-into-the-planet-without-confiding-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [My father was truly a great man. I remember one day putting my feet in my father's shoes. I was amazed at the size.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/my-father-was-truly-a-great-man-i-remember-one-day-putting-my-feet-in/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) [Browse all 1,429 Great man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly not the smartest. 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