Two related passages from Carl Sagan's "Broca's Brain"

Here are two quoted passages from Carl Sagan's book "Broca's Brain" that I found to be particularly moving for me and that, after writing them down, seem oddly related. They could, perhaps form the crux of a new piece? :) Who knows. Anyway:

from "Life in the Solar System" Chpater 12 of Carl Sagan's book "Broca's Brain"
A Quote from Anton van Leeuwenhoek

"On April 24th, 1676, observing this water by chance, I saw therein with great wonder unbelievably very many small animacules of various sorts; among others, some that were three to four times as long as broad. Their entire thickness was, in my judgment, not much thicker than one of the little hairs that cover the body of a louse. These creatures had very short, thin legs in front of the head (although I recognize no head, I speak of the head for the reason that this part always went forward during movement) . . . Close to the hindmost part lay a clear globule; and I judged that the very hindmost part was slightly cleft. These animacules are very cute while moving about, oftentimes tumbling all over."

I love this part (the bold emphasis is mine). . .to think of them as being very "cute" even if this is an old use of the word that no longer quite applies :) or has the same meaning

and then thi one p. 150- "The Sun's Family" from Carl Sagan's Broca's brain. In the beginning of this chapter, he describes what it might have been like for some outside intelligent being to watch the activity of Earth from afar (I think he ends with something about how "something interesting is happening on Earth lately" :))

". . . But nothing in those eons of time leaves the planet. And then the planet suddenly begins to fire tiny dispersals throughout the inner solar system, first in orbit around the Earth, then to the planet's blasted and lifeless natural satelite, the Moon. Six capsules--small, but larger than the rest--set down on the Moon, and from each, two tiny bipeds can be discerned, briefly exploring their surroundings and then hotfooting it back to the Earth, having extended tentatively a toe in the cosmic ocean. . . . ."

goes on to list alll the other probes and sateleites, etc. How charming, his view of us. I want to paint that, I think. The two tiny bipeds. :) it makes us seem so adorable.

This one makes me think of this image, which I have always loved but can't really say why.

---

This is, by the way, the piece that emerged from these two quotes. I deeply loved making it, even if the drawing is not that great. And I keep wanting to go back to the place I was in when I made it, listening to the Brandenberg concertos.