--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are part of a symbiotic relationship…" description: "\"We are part of a symbiotic relationship with something which disguises itself as an extra-terrestrial invasion so as not to alarm us.\" — Terence McKenna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png" --- # We are part of a symbiotic relationship with something… ![“We are part of a symbiotic relationship with something which disguises itself as an extra-terrestrial invasion so as not to alarm us.” quote by Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png) > “We are part of a symbiotic relationship with something which disguises itself as an extra-terrestrial invasion so as not to alarm us.” [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests humanity’s crisis is framed as an alien invasion to avoid panic, implying a hidden symbiosis. **In simple terms:** Crisis masked as alien threat to calm us. Key Takeaway Recognize underlying interdependence in crises. Themes environment perception mythmaking Mood thoughtful cautious Type lecture philosophical When to use this quote - climate change - cultural narratives - media framing Key Concepts symbiosis psychological defense Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from seeing crises as symbiotic? - How does metaphor shape public response? A Different Perspective Simplifying complex issues can obscure solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alarms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarms/) [Disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disguise/) [Extra terrestrial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extra-terrestrial/) [Extras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extras/) [Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invasion/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Symbiotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbiotic/) [Symbiotic Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbiotic-relationship-396958/) [Terrestrial Invasion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrestrial-invasion-3656018/) [Ufo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufo/) ## Related quotes > [My wish for humanity is to invent a way to communicate between us and whatever comes next. And in the end that we the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/my-wish-for-humanity-is-to-invent-a-way-to-communicate-between-us-and/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [One of the things I really love about TV is this symbiotic relationship you can get between the writers and the actors, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-gugino/one-of-the-things-i-really-love-about-tv-is-this-symbiotic/) [Carla Gugino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-gugino/) > [I've discovered just how symbiotic the relationship is between writers, directors and actors. They ask the same questions and strip down texts in exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-ve-discovered-just-how-symbiotic-the-relationship-is-between/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Reciprocity, a symbiotic relationship, is a relationship in which two people have worked out certain terms. I am using you in certain ways; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/reciprocity-a-symbiotic-relationship-is-a-relationship-in-which-two/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Each created entity is in symbiotic relationship with every other and in such a way that any act reverberates out and affects the whole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-e-fretheim/each-created-entity-is-in-symbiotic-relationship-with-every-other-and/) [Terence E. Fretheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-e-fretheim/) > [You tell me you love me, but Im not sure you know what love is, or how fast it flies, or how much it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/you-tell-me-you-love-me-but-im-not-sure-you-know-what-love-is-or-how/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [“To think that there is no life outside of the world is actually an extremely sick thought, a disease! So what is this disease?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-think-that-there-is-no-life-outside-of-the-world-is-actually-an/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I believe that these extra-terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets, which obviously are a little more technically advanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-believe-that-these-extra-terrestrial-vehicles-and-their-crews-are-2/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [The 'public' has no history, has no future, lives in a golden moment created by credit, which binds them ineluctably to a fascist system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-public-has-no-history-has-no-future-lives-in-a-golden-moment/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I believe that these extra-terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets. Most astronauts were reluctant to discuss UFOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-believe-that-these-extra-terrestrial-vehicles-and-their-crews-are/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [“I asked a UFO fanatic if he believes extra-terrestrials could live among humans on earth. He laughed and said it would be impossible, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/i-asked-a-ufo-fanatic-if-he-believes-extra-terrestrials-could-live/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [I'm at a funny crossroads, personally. I really want to turn my attention away from planet-hunting towards Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-marcy/i-m-at-a-funny-crossroads-personally-i-really-want-to-turn-my/) [Geoffrey Marcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-marcy/) > [Listen, I mean that from my knowledge of the world that I see around me, I think that it is much more likely that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/listen-i-mean-that-from-my-knowledge-of-the-world-that-i-see-around/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [When I learned that aliens really do exist, I wasn't too surprised. But what did shock me when I started investigating extra-terrestrial reports a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/when-i-learned-that-aliens-really-do-exist-i-wasn-t-too-surprised-but/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Could it be that God was an extra-terrestrial? What do we mean when we say that heaven is in the clouds? From Jesus Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-von-daniken/could-it-be-that-god-was-an-extra-terrestrial-what-do-we-mean-when-we/) [Erich von Däniken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-von-daniken/) ## More by Terence McKenna > [History was an incredibly damaging experience, and now it's over . . . in a sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/history-was-an-incredibly-damaging-experience-and-now-it-s-over-in-a/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The history of man that you don't know is what your unconscious is made out of. Just as the history of yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-history-of-man-that-you-don-t-know-is-what-your-unconscious-is/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [We are consciousness. 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In other words, being here now is the primary datum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/and-what-is-the-primary-datum-it-s-the-felt-presence-of-immediate/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our culture difinitely takes an egocentric dominator view. The fear of the psychedelic experience is quite literally the fear of losing control. Dominator types…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/our-culture-difinitely-takes-an-egocentric-dominator-view-the-fear-of/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Every step into freedom contains within it the potential for greater bondage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/every-step-into-freedom-contains-within-it-the-potential-for-greater/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [This is the message of your life and my life - it’s that nothing lasts. Heraclitus said it: Panta Rhei. All flows, nothing lasts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/this-is-the-message-of-your-life-and-my-life-it-s-that-nothing-lasts/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I often like to think that our map of the world is wrong, that where we have centered physics, we should actually place literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-often-like-to-think-that-our-map-of-the-world-is-wrong-that-where/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Knowledge, or verbal facility, is no proof that you know what you're talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/knowledge-or-verbal-facility-is-no-proof-that-you-know-what-you-re/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [No culture on earth is as heavily narcotized as the industrial West in terms of being inured to the consequences of maladaptive behavior. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/no-culture-on-earth-is-as-heavily-narcotized-as-the-industrial-west/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Man was not put on this planet to toil in the mud. Or the god who put us on this planet to toil in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/man-was-not-put-on-this-planet-to-toil-in-the-mud-or-the-god-who-put/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [If you take psychedelics and the Internet and music and put all of that together you have the basis for a new community that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/if-you-take-psychedelics-and-the-internet-and-music-and-put-all-of/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) [Explore all 745 Terence McKenna quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More Alarms quotes > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [There's a statement from several members of the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans, including the Democratic leader, Charles Schumer; John McCain, the chair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/there-s-a-statement-from-several-members-of-the-senate-both-democrats/) [George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/) > [Here in the UK the audience immediately reacts and they get the fact that: "What would be the most annoying thing in the world?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-jones/here-in-the-uk-the-audience-immediately-reacts-and-they-get-the-fact/) [Duncan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-jones/) > [It is a hard matter for a man to lie all over, nature having provided king's evidence in almost every member. The hand will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-allston/it-is-a-hard-matter-for-a-man-to-lie-all-over-nature-having-provided/) [Washington Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-allston/) > [Who then is free? the wise man who is lord over himself; Whom neither poverty nor death, nor chains alarm; strong to withstand his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/who-then-is-free-the-wise-man-who-is-lord-over-himself-whom-neither/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Modern man threw a brick through his own window in order to sell himself a burglar alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-carr/modern-man-threw-a-brick-through-his-own-window-in-order-to-sell/) [Allen Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-carr/) > [I understand the power and the alarm of words - Not those that they applaud from theatre-boxes, but those which make coffins break from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/i-understand-the-power-and-the-alarm-of-words-not-those-that-they/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [I don't know who Azazel is," he said. "Isn't he the cat from The Smurfs?" He cast about , but Isabelle just looked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-know-who-azazel-is-he-said-isn-t-he-the-cat-from-the-smurfs/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The beloved may be treacherous, greasy-headed and given to evil habits, or else it can be a man in his late forties who works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/the-beloved-may-be-treacherous-greasy-headed-and-given-to-evil-habits/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-have-past-much-of-their-lives-in-this-great-city-look-upon/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Unfortunately, I'm one of those idiots who knows everything about health and is in a constant state of alarm, and yet I continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/unfortunately-i-m-one-of-those-idiots-who-knows-everything-about/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [“batteries in the smoke alarms, and since he “just happened”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lawson-timmer/batteries-in-the-smoke-alarms-and-since-he-just-happened/) [Julie Lawson Timmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lawson-timmer/) > [When I see a new face, something sets off an alarm bell inside me. 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Even though not one of those cries was ever a false alarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-am-sick-of-the-girl-who-cries-wolf-all-the-time-even-though-not-one/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) [Browse all 360 Alarms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alarms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are part of a symbiotic relationship with something which disguises itself as an extra-terrestrial invasion so as not to alarm us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terence McKenna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship-with-something-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alarms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship-with-something-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/810/terence-mckenna-287_alarms_we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship_1208924.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are part of a symbiotic relationship with something which disguises itself as an extra-terrestrial…” — Terence McKenna", "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": "Terence McKenna", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are part of a symbiotic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship-with-something-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-part-of-a-symbiotic-relationship-with-something-which/#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 } } ] } ```