2000s, A Challenge to Overcome (November 2007)
“Before the prospect of an intelligence explosion, we humans are like small children playing with a bomb. Such is the mismatch between the power of our plaything and the immaturity of our conduct. Superintelligence is a challenge for which we are not ready now and will not be ready for a long time. We have little idea when the detonation will occur, though if we hold the device to our ear we can hear a faint ticking sound.”
Source: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014), Ch. 15
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Nick Bostrom 24
Swedish philosopher 1973Related quotes
Entry (1955)
Eric Hoffer and the Art of the Notebook (2005)
"A Book That Influenced Me"
Two Cheers for Democracy (1951)
Commencement Address to Boston University Class of 2005 http://www.bu.edu/news/2005/05/22/transcript-of-president-hamid-karzais-commencement-address/ (May 22, 2005)
2005
Source: Litany for Dictatorships (1935)
"Speech at the international scientific and practical conference "30 years of leadership" https://elbasy.kz/en/speeches/2019-06/speech-elbasy-na-nazarbayev-international-scientific-and-practical-conference-30 (2019)
Source: The Devil and Miss Prym [O Demônio e a srta Prym] (2000), p. x; this has also been misquoted as "A moment is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny."
Context: When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.
Fifth annual Message http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washs05.asp (3 December 1793)
1790s
Source: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799 Volume 39 (General Index O-Z List of Letters) - Leather Bound