"After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say 'I want to see the manager.'"
- William S. Burroughs
About this Quote
This quote by William S. Burroughs is a humorous take on the state of the world. It implies that if an extraterrestrial were to check out Earth, they would be so appalled by the state of the planet that they would immediately demand to speak with the manager. This could be interpreted as a criticism of the method people have actually dealt with the world, and how we have actually failed to take duty for our actions. It could also be viewed as a call to action, prompting us to take duty for our actions and make modifications to ensure the planet is better cared for in the future. Eventually, this quote serves as a pointer that we are all responsible for the state of the world, which we need to do something about it to ensure its future.
"Wonder if there is life on another planet? Let's suppose there is. Suppose further, that only one star in a trillion has a planet that could support life. If that were the case, then there would be at least 100 million planets that harbored life"
"It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small"
"Now, we put out a lot of carbon dioxide every year, over 26 billion tons. For each American, it's about 20 tons. For people in poor countries, it's less than one ton. It's an average of about five tons for everyone on the planet. And, somehow, we have to make changes that will bring that down to zero"
"We're looking at Earth science, observing our planet. Also space science, looking at the ozone in the atmosphere around our Earth. Also looking at life science. And on a human level, using ourselves as test subjects"
"All the things that human beings suffer from are how their environment treats them, and how the elements of their planet affects their mind and body - like radiation, cancer, and all"
