Prolific author Vanna Bonta, whose varied works include essays, novels, and poetry, frequently considers the special qualities that distinguish humans from other species. She highlights in one of her reflections the significance of looking both inward, to our own thoughts and consciousness, and outward, to the vastness of our universe.

Consider the human mind to be a tall lighthouse on the shore. Two essential purposes of this lighthouse are to guide ships safely to shore by shining its light out into the dark sea and to reflect on its own place in the larger scheme of things. In a similar vein, Bonta exhorts us to use our intellect to contemplate our position in the universe as well as to investigate its mysteries.

By considering our capacity for imagination, dreaming, and contemplation, she emphasizes how these qualities are not merely discrete endeavors but rather integral components of our humanity. By drawing a comparison between the depth of our own consciousness and the vastness of space, she paints a striking picture, arguing that we should be as amazed by the infinity of stars as we are by the intricacy and wonder of our inner worlds.

Bonta's remarks serve as a reminder to cherish the special quality of self-awareness, which is the ability to comprehend both the outside world and our place in it. Like a crown (or crest), this characteristic sets humans apart from other species on Earth and identifies us as beings with the capacity for deep reflection and unbounded creativity.

Through her writing, Bonta invites readers to appreciate this unique human quality and to accept the dual nature of our existence—looking both inward to better understand ourselves and outward to the cosmos.