They are objects about the size of our Solar System which produce more light and energy then 1000 galaxies. Think how incredible that is. A small object, not any bigger than our Solar System which can produces so much power and light that it shines brighter than 1000 galaxies. The answer is this. The quasars near Earth have died down long ago.
Quasars are probably super giant black holes, which are devouring entire stars.
These black holes lie at the center of galaxies, and glow brightly as matter more massive than millions of stars funnel into them.