--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The prediction that in the twenty-first…" description: "\"“The prediction that in the twenty-first century humankind is likely to aim for immortality, bliss and divinity may anger, alienate or frighten any num..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/yuval-noah-harari-100_death_the-prediction-that-in-the-twenty-first_2155406.jpg" --- # The prediction that in the twenty-first century humankind… ![“The prediction that in the twenty-first century humankind is likely to aim for immortality, bliss and divinity may anger, alienate or frighten any number of people, so a few clarifications are in order. Firstly, this is not what most individuals will actually do in the twenty-first century. It is…” quote by Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/yuval-noah-harari-100_death_the-prediction-that-in-the-twenty-first_2155406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/yuval-noah-harari-100_death_the-prediction-that-in-the-twenty-first_2155406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d4e/yuval-noah-harari-100_death_the-prediction-that-in-the-twenty-first_2155406.jpg) > ““The prediction that in the twenty-first century humankind is likely to aim for immortality, bliss and divinity may anger, alienate or frighten any number of people, so a few clarifications are in order. Firstly, this is not what most individuals will actually do in the twenty-first century. It is what humankind as a collective will do. Most people will probably play only a minor role, if any, in these projects. Even if famine, plague and war become less prevalent, billions of humans in developing countries and seedy neighbourhoods will continue to deal with poverty, illness and violence even as the elites are already reaching for eternal youth and godlike powers. This seems patently unjust. One could argue that as long as there is a single child dying from malnutrition or a single adult killed in drug-lord warfare, humankind should focus all its efforts on combating these woes. Only once the last sword is beaten into a ploughshare should we turn our minds to the next big thing. But history doesn’t work like that. Those living in palaces have always had different agendas to those living in shacks, and that is unlikely to change in the twenty-first century.”” [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that while humanity may pursue grand, like immortality and divinity, most people will still suffer from basic hardships, making such ambitions seem unjust and disconnected from everyday suffering. **In simple terms:** Future tech goals clash with present poverty and suffering. Key Takeaway Balance lofty goals with immediate humanitarian needs. Themes justice inequality future technology ethics Mood concerned critical thoughtful Type philosophical ethical social commentary When to use this quote - policy making - philanthropy - public health - education reform - technology ethics Key Concepts Transhumanism global disparity resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prioritize both long‑term advancement and immediate suffering? - What responsibilities do the privileged have toward the disadvantaged? A Different Perspective The pursuit of extreme longevity may divert resources from urgent crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Century Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century-humankind-2438270/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Developing countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-countries/) [Eternal youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-youth/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Humankind Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind-focus-3382019/) [Humankind Likely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind-likely-4549655/) [Warfare Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare-humankind-4549656/) ## Related quotes > [“In the second half of the twentieth century humankind almost obliterated itself in an argument about production methods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/in-the-second-half-of-the-twentieth-century-humankind-almost/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Space is as infinite as we can imagine, and expanding this perspective is what adjusts humankind's focus on conquering our true enemies, the formidable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/space-is-as-infinite-as-we-can-imagine-and-expanding-this-perspective/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [It is a stark and arresting fact that, since the middle of the 20th century, humankind has consumed more natural resources than in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-beckett/it-is-a-stark-and-arresting-fact-that-since-the-middle-of-the-20th/) [Margaret Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-beckett/) > [“Seventy thousand years ago, Homo sapiens was still an insignificant animal minding its own business in a corner of Africa. 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