Perhaps we’ve never been visited by aliens because they have looked upon earth and decided there’s no sign of intelligent life.
Interpretation
Humanity may not appear intelligent enough to attract alien attention.
This quote by Neil Degrasse Tyson suggests that if extraterrestrial beings exist, they may have assessed Earth and determined that it does not display evidence of advanced intelligence. It prompts reflection on humanity's behavior and accomplishments, questioning whether our actions reflect true intelligence or if there is a lack thereof that could dissuade potential extraterrestrial visitors.
In practice
During a science seminar discussing the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
The problem is that many people operate on the assumption that NASA should go to Congress every year with hat in hand and justify it every year. Well, I see it as the greatest economic driver that there ever was. Economic drivers don't need justification.
The press still thinks [global warming] is controversial. So they find the 1% of the scientists and put them up as if they're 50% of the research results. You in the public would have no idea that this is basically a done deal and that we're on to other problems, because the journalists are trying to give it a 50/50 story. It's not a 50/50 story. It's not. Period.
As a scientist, I want to go to Mars and back to asteroids and the Moon because I'm a scientist. But I can tell you, I'm not so naive a scientist to think that the nation might not have geopolitical reasons for going into space.
In just one year, the expenditure of of the U.S.'s military budget is equivalent to the entire 50-year running budget of NASA combined.
One of my great laments is that education today seems to have... be less about passion and more about process, more about tactic or technique.
Lots of people think, well, we're humans; we're the most intelligent and accomplished species; we're in charge. Bacteria may have a different outlook: more bacteria live and work in one linear centimeter of your lower colon than all the humans who have ever lived. That's what's going on in your digestive tract right now. Are we in charge, or are we simply hosts for bacteria? It all depends on your outlook.
Laws to protect 'public health' are potentially infinite, especially once they no longer have to be supported by any research whatsoever.
We try to think with 'and' rather than 'or.' It doesn't have to be healthy or tasty. It can be healthy and tasty. It can be wholesome and convenient.
Damned money! Alas! How many religious did it blind! How many cloistered religious did it deceive! Money is the 'droppings of birds' that blinded the eyes of Tobit.
So no, it's not all in the genes, but what isn't in the genes isn't in the family environment either. It can't be explained in terms of the overall personalities or the child-rearing practices of parents.
We continue to shape our personality all our life. If we knew ourselves perfectly, we should die.
The humanity that is given to other people isn't given to us. There is an expendability that comes along with being African American.
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