But the probable life span of civilizational consciousness as we know it, which we should really view as this very delicate thing, like a small candle in a vast darkness.

但是我们所知道的文明意识的可能寿命，我们真的应该把它看作是一件非常微妙的事情， 就像茫茫黑暗中的一根小蜡烛。