--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have indeed been out in space, but…" description: "\"We have indeed been out in space, but some are under the illusion that we have been off Earth. In reality humans have never been off Earth. We have alw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/thomas-berry-7391_air_we-have-indeed-been-out-in-space-but-som_811146.png" --- # We have indeed been out in space, but some are under the… ![“We have indeed been out in space, but some are under the illusion that we have been off Earth. In reality humans have never been off Earth. We have always been on a piece of Earth in space. We survive only as long as we can breathe the air of Earth, drink its waters, and be nourished by its foods…” quote by Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/thomas-berry-7391_air_we-have-indeed-been-out-in-space-but-som_811146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/thomas-berry-7391_air_we-have-indeed-been-out-in-space-but-som_811146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/439/thomas-berry-7391_air_we-have-indeed-been-out-in-space-but-som_811146.png) > “We have indeed been out in space, but some are under the illusion that we have been off Earth. In reality humans have never been off Earth. We have always been on a piece of Earth in space. We survive only as long as we can breathe the air of Earth, drink its waters, and be nourished by its foods. There is no indication that as humans we will ever live anywhere else in the universe. Place, too, is continuously being transformed but only within its own possibilities.” [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity remains Earth‑bound; our survival depends on Earth's resources, and we cannot assume we will ever colonize elsewhere. **In simple terms:** We are tied to Earth for life. Key Takeaway Respect and protect Earth. Themes environment dependence future Mood concerned thoughtful Type ethical environmental When to use this quote - policy making - education - urban planning - resource management Key Concepts sustainability planetary limits Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities arise from Earth‑centric living? - How should we balance exploration with stewardship? A Different Perspective Optimism about space colonization may ignore ecological constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Breathe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathe/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-reality-258981/) [Earth Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-space-258980/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humans Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans-earth-258979/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Indication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indication/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-survive-258978/) [Transformed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformed/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“A newly formed planet appeared on the large screen. its surface was till red-hot, like a piece of charcoal fresh out of the furnace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/a-newly-formed-planet-appeared-on-the-large-screen-its-surface-was/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [“Dedicated to the Earth and Hope Reality is where we are, Reality is who we are, Reality is what we are, Reality is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javid-ahmad-tak/dedicated-to-the-earth-and-hope-reality-is-where-we-are-reality-is/) [Javid Ahmad Tak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javid-ahmad-tak/) > [I think there's a good case for antinatalism. Stephen Hawking has told us recently that we must colonise space to survive, not long after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-think-there-s-a-good-case-for-antinatalism-stephen-hawking-has-told/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ If we do want to do that \[ colonise space to survive, \], then vacuous materialism is not going to be enough for us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/if-we-do-want-to-do-that-colonise-space-to-survive-then-vacuous/) [Quentin S. 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But we humans did not look the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/once-upon-a-time-aristophanes-relates-there-were-gods-in-the-heavens/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Humans should be the Earth's custodians, not its butchers. Much attention - though not enough - focuses on the existential threat posed by climate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-jones/humans-should-be-the-earth-s-custodians-not-its-butchers-much/) [Owen Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-jones/) > [Our bones, flesh and blood are made up of the metals, liquids and minerals of the earth and everything on this planet is made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-trudell/our-bones-flesh-and-blood-are-made-up-of-the-metals-liquids-and/) [John Trudell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-trudell/) > [National boundaries are not evident when we view the Earth from space. Fanatical ethnic or religious or national chauvinisms are a little difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/national-boundaries-are-not-evident-when-we-view-the-earth-from-space/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-leonov/the-earth-was-small-light-blue-and-so-touchingly-alone-our-home-that/) [Alexey Leonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-leonov/) ## More by Thomas Berry > [Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/teaching-children-about-the-natural-world-should-be-seen-as-one-of/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [All human activities, professions, programs, and institutions must henceforth be judged primarily by the extent to which they inhibit, ignore, or foster a mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/all-human-activities-professions-programs-and-institutions-must/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [The universe must be experienced as the Great Self. 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The human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/the-universe-is-a-unity-an-interacting-and-genetically-related/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [The future rests in the religious, political, economic and cultural capacity of humans to establish this larger context in which the particular traditions will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/the-future-rests-in-the-religious-political-economic-and-cultural/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [We see quite clearly that what happens to the nonhuman, happens to the human. 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