--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The myth of quantum consciousness sits…" description: "\"“The myth of quantum consciousness sits well with many whose egos have made it impossible for them to accept the insignificant place science perceives ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/victor-j-stenger-16236_conscience_the-myth-of-quantum-consciousness-sits-w_990924.png" --- # The myth of quantum consciousness sits well with many… ![“The myth of quantum consciousness sits well with many whose egos have made it impossible for them to accept the insignificant place science perceives for humanity, as modern instruments probe the farthest reaches of space and time. ... quantum consciousness has about as much substance as the…” quote by Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/victor-j-stenger-16236_conscience_the-myth-of-quantum-consciousness-sits-w_990924.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/victor-j-stenger-16236_conscience_the-myth-of-quantum-consciousness-sits-w_990924.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9f/victor-j-stenger-16236_conscience_the-myth-of-quantum-consciousness-sits-w_990924.png) > ““The myth of quantum consciousness sits well with many whose egos have made it impossible for them to accept the insignificant place science perceives for humanity, as modern instruments probe the farthest reaches of space and time. ... quantum consciousness has about as much substance as the aether from which it is composed. Early in this century, quantum mechanics and Einstein’s relativity destroyed the notion of a holistic universe that had seemed within the realm of possibility in the century just past. First, Einstein did away with the aether, shattering the doctrine that we all move about inside a universal, cosmic fluid whose excitations connect us simultaneously to one another and to the rest of the universe. Second, Einstein and other physicists proved that matter and light were composed of particles, wiping away the notion of universal continuity. Atomic theory and quantum mechanics demonstrated that everything, even space and time, exists in discrete bits – quanta. To turn this around and say that twentieth century physics initiated some new holistic view of the universe is a complete misrepresentation of what actually took place. ... The myth of quantum consciousness should take its place along with gods, unicorns, and dragons as yet another product of the fantasies of people unwilling to accept what science, reason, and their own eyes tell them about the world.”” [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quantum consciousness is a baseless idea that misinterprets modern physics, conflating ancient mysticism with scientific facts. **In simple terms:** Quantum consciousness is an unfounded myth. Key Takeaway Question scientific claims critically. Themes science skepticism philosophy of mind Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - academic debate - public science communication - education curricula Key Concepts reductionism empiricism misinterpretation Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would convince you of a mind‑physics link? - How can we balance skepticism with openness? 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The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-rovelli/the-quanta-of-gravity-that-is-are-not-in-space-they-are-themselves/) [Carlo Rovelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-rovelli/) > [It is He who manifests as both matter and consciousness. There is no place where God is not. In every atom, in every living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rama-swami/it-is-he-who-manifests-as-both-matter-and-consciousness-there-is-no/) [Rama Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rama-swami/) > [“For a moment Carl tried to picture everything in his mind, and then it happened. Somewhere inside of him, where cause and effect were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jussi-adler-olsen/for-a-moment-carl-tried-to-picture-everything-in-his-mind-and-then-it/) [Jussi Adler-Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jussi-adler-olsen/) > [“There can indeed be nothing but consciousness. Tell me of any place where there is no consciousness; there is no place beyond consciousness. 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This is a place of peace and joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isha-judd/what-i-teach-is-how-to-go-inside-and-reach-that-place-i-call-love/) [Isha Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isha-judd/) > [For it is indeed consciousness that makes the body fully alive, and the body that gives consciousness a place to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anodea-judith/for-it-is-indeed-consciousness-that-makes-the-body-fully-alive-and/) [Anodea Judith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anodea-judith/) > [“So we may now pose a question which could be answered only if we have a quantum theory of gravity. What is the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-smolin/so-we-may-now-pose-a-question-which-could-be-answered-only-if-we-have/) [Lee Smolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-smolin/) ## More by Victor J. Stenger > [People want to be at the center of the Universe...and they're going to flock to anybody who tells them that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/people-want-to-be-at-the-center-of-the-universe-and-they-re-going-to/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Is there a place in a church where you leave your brains when you enter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/is-there-a-place-in-a-church-where-you-leave-your-brains-when-you/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [To most theistic believers, human life can have no meaning in a universe without God. Quite sincerely, and with understandable yearning for a meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/to-most-theistic-believers-human-life-can-have-no-meaning-in-a/) [Victor J. 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Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Debating is not an honest intellectual exercise. It's like a trial in which the goal is not to get to the truth but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/debating-is-not-an-honest-intellectual-exercise-it-s-like-a-trial-in/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Fifteen years of skepticism has done more for me than 20 years of force-fed religion and 30 years of indifference in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/fifteen-years-of-skepticism-has-done-more-for-me-than-20-years-of/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Just because quantum mechanics is weird does not mean that everything that is weird is quantum mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/just-because-quantum-mechanics-is-weird-does-not-mean-that-everything/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [In fact, current cosmological observations indicate that the average density of matter and energy in the universe is equal, within measurement errors, to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/in-fact-current-cosmological-observations-indicate-that-the-average/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Selling eternal life is an unbeatable business, with no customers ever asking for their money back after the goods are not delivered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/selling-eternal-life-is-an-unbeatable-business-with-no-customers-ever/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Any strategy that attempts to reinforce faith by undermining science is also doomed to failure. Showing that some scientific theory is wrong will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/any-strategy-that-attempts-to-reinforce-faith-by-undermining-science/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Nature is capable of building complex structures by processes of self-organization; simplicity begets complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/nature-is-capable-of-building-complex-structures-by-processes-of-self/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that requires something more than a material explanation. I do not accept the burden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/define-self-awareness-and-tell-me-what-it-is-about-it-that-requires/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) > [Assuming the universe came from nothing, it is empty to begin with... Only by the constant action of an agent outside the universe, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-stenger/assuming-the-universe-came-from-nothing-it-is-empty-to-begin-with/) [Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) [Explore all 40 Victor J. Stenger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-stenger/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The myth of quantum consciousness sits well with many whose egos have made it impossible for them to accept the insignificant place science perceives for humanity, as modern instruments probe the farthest reaches of space and time. ... quantum consciousness has about as much substance as the aether from which it is composed. Early in this century, quantum mechanics and Einstein’s relativity destroyed the notion of a holistic universe that had seemed within the realm of possibility in the century just past. 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