The question that will decide our destiny is not whether we shall expand into space. It is: shall we be one species or a million? A million species will not exhaust the ecological niches that are awaiting the arrival of intelligence.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that the most important question for the future of humanity is not whether we will explore space, but whether we will stay as a single species or spread out into many different species. The quote suggests that even if there are a million different human-like species, there will still be plenty of room for them to live and thrive on Earth, as there are many different ecological niches waiting to be filled by intelligent beings.
About Freeman Dyson
Freeman John Dyson was a renowned British-American physicist and mathematician known for his groundbreaking work in fields like quantum field theory, astrophysics, and nuclear physics. He originated several fascinating concepts, including the Dyson tree, the Dyson sphere, and Dyson’s eternal intelligence, which continue to captivate the scientific community.
More quotes from Freeman Dyson
Technology is a gift of God. After the gift of life it is perhaps the greatest of God’s gifts. It is the mother of civilizations, of arts and of sciences.
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The technologies which have had the most profound effects on human life are usually simple.
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A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering.
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It’s better to get mugged than to live a life of fear.
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You ask: what is the meaning or purpose of life? I can only answer with another question: do you think we are wise enough to read God’s mind?
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The question that will decide our destiny is not whether we shall expand into space. It is: shall we be one species or a million? A million species will not exhaust the ecological niches that are awaiting the arrival of intelligence.
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There is a great satisfaction in building good tools for other people to use.
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It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be approached without some humor and some bewilderment.
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