"Great cataclysmic things can go by and neither the orchestra nor the conductor are under the delusion that whether they make this or that gesture is going to be the deciding factor in how it comes out"

This quote by James Levine talks to the concept that, while we may make every effort to make a distinction on the planet, ultimately, the outcome of any scenario runs out our control. He suggests that, even if we put in our best effort, the outcome might not be what we expect. He compares this to an orchestra and conductor, who might make the very best music they can, but the result is not necessarily in their hands. This quote encourages us to accept that, while we can strive to make a distinction, the result is eventually out of our control. We should focus on doing our finest and accept that the result might not be what we expect.