Life is like topography, Hobbes. There are summits of happiness and success, flat stretches of boring routine and valleys of frustration and failure.
The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The absence of contact from intelligent extraterrestrial life suggests they are either wise enough to avoid us or do not see us as worth contacting.
Bill Watterson's quote reflects on the idea that if intelligent life exists beyond Earth, their lack of contact with humanity might imply their intelligence leads them to recognize the potential dangers or triviality of engaging with a species that often acts irrationally. This thought prompts a contemplation of our own actions and the nature of intelligence, suggesting that perhaps not all intelligence seeks to dominate or interact, but some may choose silence out of prudence or disinterest.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on astrobiology, one could use this quote to highlight the enigmatic nature of extraterrestrial intelligence.
More from Bill Watterson
All quotes βSometimes when I'm talking, my words can't keep up with my thoughts. I wonder why we think faster than we speak. Probably so we can think twice.
The secret to enjoying your job is to have a hobby that's even worse
Shutting off the thought process is not rejuvenating; the mind is like a car battery - it recharges by running.
Mothers are the necessity of invention.
Dad: Honey, have you seen my glasses? I can"t find them. Mom: I haven't seen them. Calvin: (with glasses, to Dad) Calvin, go do something you hate! Being miserable builds character!
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The only journey is the one within.
After chiding the theologian for his reliance on myth and miracle, science found itself in the unenviable position of having to create mythology of its own: namely, the assumption that what, after long effort, could not be proved to take place today had, in truth, taken place in the primeval past.
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All lies are told with a straight face. It is truth that's said with a dismissive giggle.