The most powerful force ever known on this planet is human cooperation — a force for construction and destruction.

Source: "Religion, Evolution, and the Ecstasy of Self-Transcendence." TED2012. Feb. 2012. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from psychologist Jonathan Haidt's 2012 TED Talk about the uniquely human desire for self-transcendence. The quote means that when humans work together, we can achieve something far greater than if we work alone -- and with this power, we can both create and destroy. When we serve communal interests, says Haidt, we lose ourselves and become, simply, part of a whole. Watch the full TED Talk here: Jonathan Haidt - Religion, Evolution, and the Ecstasy of Self-Transcendence