--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need a metaphor that can contain the…" description: "\"We need a metaphor that can contain the daemon of the future that we have conjured into being.\" — Terence McKenna" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png" --- # We need a metaphor that can contain the daemon of the… ![“We need a metaphor that can contain the daemon of the future that we have conjured into being.” quote by Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png) > “We need a metaphor that can contain the daemon of the future that we have conjured into being.” [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. Calls for a metaphor to encapsulate the emerging, potentially uncontrollable future we are creating **In simple terms:** Need a symbol for the future we are shaping Key Takeaway Create a metaphor for future challenges Themes future technology control Mood speculative analytical Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - strategic planning - policy making - technology forecasting Key Concepts systems theory complexity Questions to Reflect On - What metaphor could capture emerging tech? - How do metaphors shape our response to change? A Different Perspective Metaphors may oversimplify complex futures ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/d-mon/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Americans don't need a metaphor for war. We have war. If anything, we use war as a metaphor for sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/americans-don-t-need-a-metaphor-for-war-we-have-war-if-anything-we/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Suffering, it turns out, demands profound imagination. A new future has to be conjured up because the old future isn't there anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/suffering-it-turns-out-demands-profound-imagination-a-new-future-has/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [In baseball, you can't tell the players without a scorecard, but in political commentary, you need a metaphor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-baseball-you-can-t-tell-the-players-without-a-scorecard-but-in/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Spaceflight is nothing less than the exterior metaphor for the shamanic voyage. In other words, in our terms, the hallucinogenic experience. This is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/spaceflight-is-nothing-less-than-the-exterior-metaphor-for-the/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“The creative act is a letting down of the net of human imagination into the ocean of chaos on which we are suspended, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-creative-act-is-a-letting-down-of-the-net-of-human-imagination/) [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/) > [“What?" he demanded. "Did you just...clean a dish?" Dee backed away slowly, blinking. She glanced at Daemon. "The world is going to end. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/what-he-demanded-did-you-just-clean-a-dish-dee-backed-away-slowly/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Taking pity on me, Carissa kept her voice low. “You were calling out for Daemon.”I dropped my face in my hands and moaned. “Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/taking-pity-on-me-carissa-kept-her-voice-low-you-were-calling-out-for/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“It can’t be that bad. I have to try it.” I bit back a mad grin. I was so not going to stop her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/it-can-t-be-that-bad-i-have-to-try-it-i-bit-back-a-mad-grin-i-was-so/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Because I know.” Daemon appeared in front of me, eyes narrowed. He thumped his hand off his chest, directly above his heart. "Because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/because-i-know-daemon-appeared-in-front-of-me-eyes-narrowed-he/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon always looks hot!!! Stretching into the aisle, I went to drop the note back on Carissa’s desk. Before it could leave my fingertips,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-always-looks-hot-stretching-into-the-aisle-i-went-to-drop-the/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon was a total babe, but he was stab-worthy, which at times zeroed out the babe part. Not always, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-was-a-total-babe-but-he-was-stab-worthy-which-at-times-zeroed/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon was suddenly in front of me. I took an involuntary step back. "Do you think I didn't enjoy kissing you? That I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-was-suddenly-in-front-of-me-i-took-an-involuntary-step-back-do/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon had not stayed. My smile slipped from my face. He was standing by the window, his back to me. “I got bored.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-had-not-stayed-my-smile-slipped-from-my-face-he-was-standing/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“¿Qué estoy haciendo? Si ellos se dan cuanta de lo que he hecho...Pero no puedo. No puedo perderla…♥ —Daemon♥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/qu-estoy-haciendo-si-ellos-se-dan-cuanta-de-lo-que-he-hecho-pero-no/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) ## 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. We may not always be monkeys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-consciousness-we-may-not-always-be-monkeys/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [What is happening here is we are living past the age, by the millions, living past the age where cultural values make any sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/what-is-happening-here-is-we-are-living-past-the-age-by-the-millions/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [What history is, essentially, is a careening, out-of-control effort to find our way back to this state of primordial balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/what-history-is-essentially-is-a-careening-out-of-control-effort-to/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [And what is the primary datum? It's the felt presence of immediate experience. 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 Daemon quotes > [“Daemon had not stayed. My smile slipped from my face. He was standing by the window, his back to me. “I got bored.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-had-not-stayed-my-smile-slipped-from-my-face-he-was-standing/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon was a total babe, but he was stab-worthy, which at times zeroed out the babe part. Not always, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-was-a-total-babe-but-he-was-stab-worthy-which-at-times-zeroed/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“It can’t be that bad. I have to try it.” I bit back a mad grin. I was so not going to stop her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/it-can-t-be-that-bad-i-have-to-try-it-i-bit-back-a-mad-grin-i-was-so/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Taking pity on me, Carissa kept her voice low. “You were calling out for Daemon.”I dropped my face in my hands and moaned. “Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/taking-pity-on-me-carissa-kept-her-voice-low-you-were-calling-out-for/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“What?" he demanded. "Did you just...clean a dish?" Dee backed away slowly, blinking. She glanced at Daemon. "The world is going to end. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/what-he-demanded-did-you-just-clean-a-dish-dee-backed-away-slowly/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“¿Qué estoy haciendo? Si ellos se dan cuanta de lo que he hecho...Pero no puedo. No puedo perderla…♥ —Daemon♥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/qu-estoy-haciendo-si-ellos-se-dan-cuanta-de-lo-que-he-hecho-pero-no/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Because I know.” Daemon appeared in front of me, eyes narrowed. He thumped his hand off his chest, directly above his heart. "Because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/because-i-know-daemon-appeared-in-front-of-me-eyes-narrowed-he/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon always looks hot!!! Stretching into the aisle, I went to drop the note back on Carissa’s desk. Before it could leave my fingertips,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-always-looks-hot-stretching-into-the-aisle-i-went-to-drop-the/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Daemon was suddenly in front of me. I took an involuntary step back. "Do you think I didn't enjoy kissing you? That I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/daemon-was-suddenly-in-front-of-me-i-took-an-involuntary-step-back-do/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“„Did you just…clean a dish?” Dee backed away slowly, blinking. She glanced at Daemon. “The world is going to end. And I’m still a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/did-you-just-clean-a-dish-dee-backed-away-slowly-blinking-she-glanced/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Guy: Ash is going to kick your ass, Daemon. Daemon: Nah, she likes my ass too much for that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/guy-ash-is-going-to-kick-your-ass-daemon-daemon-nah-she-likes-my-ass/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“To Daemon, my arrival was the beginning of the end. The apocalypse. Kat-mageddon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/to-daemon-my-arrival-was-the-beginning-of-the-end-the-apocalypse-kat/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“I tried to push down my anger. One thing I hated more than Daemon's douche-nozzle side was him telling me what to do. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-tried-to-push-down-my-anger-one-thing-i-hated-more-than-daemon-s/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Lok’tar ogar!” The daemon holding me pulled my head back, exposing my throat. “Victory or death,” I retorted at my captor hoarsely. “For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pang/lok-tar-ogar-the-daemon-holding-me-pulled-my-head-back-exposing-my/) [Allison Pang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pang/) > [“¿De venir aquí, golpear hasta el cansancio a Simon y reclamar a mi chica??? —Daemon♥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/de-venir-aqu-golpear-hasta-el-cansancio-a-simon-y-reclamar-a-mi-chica/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) [Browse all 69 Daemon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/d-mon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need a metaphor that can contain the daemon of the future that we have conjured into being.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terence McKenna" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the-daemon-of-the-future-that-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Daemon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the-daemon-of-the-future-that-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/terence-mckenna-287_daemon_we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the_1737903.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need a metaphor that can contain the daemon of the future that we have conjured into being.” — 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 need a metaphor that can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the-daemon-of-the-future-that-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-need-a-metaphor-that-can-contain-the-daemon-of-the-future-that-we/#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 } } ] } ```