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The first question we would ask if aliens landed on this planet is not, 'What does this mean for the economy or jobs?' It would be, 'Are they friendly or unfriendly?'
Peter Thiel
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of safety and interpersonal relationships over economic concerns in the face of the unknown.

Peter Thiel's quote highlights a fundamental human instinct to prioritize our safety and the nature of our relationships with others, even in hypothetical scenarios involving extraterrestrial life. Rather than immediately considering the economic ramifications of such an event, our first instinct would be to ascertain whether these visitors pose a threat or are allies, underlining our intrinsic need for security and understanding when confronted with the unfamiliar.

Themes

AliensSafetyRelationshipsEconomyFear

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about science fiction films, one might quote this to illustrate our concern for safety over economic implications.

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