Humankind Quote by Yuval Noah Harari
““When humankind possesses enormous new powers, and when the threat of famine, plague and war is finally lifted, what will we do with ourselves? What will the scientists, investors, bankers and presidents do all day? Write poetry? Success””
About This Quote
Source Book: Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari, 2015
With humanity’s newfound power and the removal of existential threats, the future may become idle, prompting questions about purpose beyond material success.
In simple terms: Power and security can lead to boredom and lack of purpose.
Key Takeaway
Find meaning beyond material achievements.
Themes
purpose
technology
abundance
existential risk
future
meaning
Mood
thoughtful
optimistic
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career planning
- policy making
- personal development
- artistic pursuits
Key Concepts
post‑scarcity society
existential ennui
societal evolution
Questions to Reflect On
- What new challenges can we create for ourselves?
- How can we cultivate purpose in abundance?
A Different Perspective
The view may be overly pessimistic about human creativity and adaptation.
![“[Margot Hentoff] thinks - first of all, she - this I hear from a lot of people beside her. She thinks that men have no business getting into this argument at all unless they're going to be pro-choice. But it turns out that a fair number of fetuses are male, and besides that, we are all one part of…” quote by Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/060/nat-hentoff-1615_argument_margot-hentoff-thinks-first-of-all-she-t_42891.jpg)
