Every island to a child is a treasure island.
P. D. JamesRead
It is surely unreasonable to credit that only one small star in the immensity of the universe is capable of developing and supporting intelligent life. But we shall not get to them and they will not come to us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests the improbability of life existing only on Earth, highlighting the vastness of the universe and our limited connection to it.
P. D. James reflects on the unlikely notion that Earth is the sole cradle of intelligent life amidst the universe's vast expanse. She suggests that while it seems unreasonable for only one small planet to harbor such life, the barriers to discovering extraterrestrial beings mean they remain out of our reach, emphasizing humanity's isolation in the cosmic scale.
Themes
UniverseIntelligent LifeExistenceCosmic IsolationLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a science fiction convention, this quote can be used to spark a discussion about extraterrestrial life.
More from P. D. James
All quotes →If from infancy you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils.
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I believe that political correctness can be a form of linguistic fascism, and it sends shivers down the spine of my generation who went to war against fascism.
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What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give.
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Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other people. Nothing that happens to a writer – however happy, however tragic – is ever wasted.
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It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.
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