QuoteProject
The quantity and quality of consciousness, one may say, have always been growing throughout geological times. In this respect man, in whom nervous organisation and therefore psychological powers have attained an undisputed maximum, may be considered, scientifically, as a natural centre of evolution of the primates.
Pierre Teilhard De Chardin
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that human consciousness has evolved significantly over time, with humans representing the pinnacle of this evolution.

Pierre Teilhard De Chardin's quote highlights the idea that consciousness, both in terms of quantity and quality, has progressively developed throughout the history of the Earth. He posits that humans, as beings with advanced nervous systems and psychological capabilities, exemplify the peak of evolutionary progress among primates, indicating that the evolution of consciousness is a key aspect of our existence.

Themes

ConsciousnessEvolutionHumanityPsychologyPrimate

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture on the evolution of consciousness, one might quote this to explain the significance of human development.

More from Pierre Teilhard De Chardin

The whole life lies in the verb seeing.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
Religion and science are the two conjugated faces or phases of one and the same complete act of knowledge - the only one which can embrace the past and future of evolution and so contemplate, measure and fulfil them.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
The mineral world is a much more supple and mobile world than could be imagined by the science of the ancients. Vaguely analogous to the metamorphoses of living creatures, there occurs in the most solid rocks, as we now know, perpetual transformation of a mineral species.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
We may, perhaps, imagine that the creation was finished long ago. But that would be quite wrong. It continues still more magnificently, and at the highest levels of the world.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them and joins them by what is deepest in themselves. All we need is to imagine our ability to love developing until it embraces the totality of men and the earth.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead
If there is one thing I fear less than everything else, it is, I believe, persecution for my opinions. There are a good many points about which I may be diffident, but when it comes to questions of Truth and intellectual independence, there is no holding me - I can envisage no finer end than to sacrifice oneself for a conviction.
Pierre Teilhard De ChardinRead

Similar quotes

There is no doubt whatsoever that the universe is the merest illusion.
Ramana MaharshiRead
It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or precariousness of the tenure by which he holds it.
Alexander HamiltonRead
O sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere.
John MiltonRead
Civilization depends on, and civility often requires, the willingness to say, 'What you are doing is none of my business' and 'What I am doing is none of your business.'
George WillRead
People often ask me how I feel about my invention being used to kill people every day and the AK being a common weapon of ethnic conflicts. I want to make it clear that I created my assault rifle to protect my country. You can blame politicians for its spreading out of control on a global scale.
Mikhail KalashnikovRead
Homo sapiens, the only creature endowed with reason, is also the only creature to pin its existence on things unreasonable.
Henri BergsonRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.