--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All I'm doing, all I have done for 40…" description: "\"All I'm doing, all I have done for 40 years, is spend time with the best scientific experts, gain their confidence, and take advantage of their patienc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/al-gore-609_being-true_all-i-m-doing-all-i-have-done-for-40-yea_2942591.jpg" --- # All I'm doing, all I have done for 40 years, is spend time… ![“All I'm doing, all I have done for 40 years, is spend time with the best scientific experts, gain their confidence, and take advantage of their patience in explaining things to me over and over again in progressively simpler language that I can understand, so that I can read it back to them and…” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/al-gore-609_being-true_all-i-m-doing-all-i-have-done-for-40-yea_2942591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/al-gore-609_being-true_all-i-m-doing-all-i-have-done-for-40-yea_2942591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/738/al-gore-609_being-true_all-i-m-doing-all-i-have-done-for-40-yea_2942591.jpg) > “All I'm doing, all I have done for 40 years, is spend time with the best scientific experts, gain their confidence, and take advantage of their patience in explaining things to me over and over again in progressively simpler language that I can understand, so that I can read it back to them and get their sign off, where they say, "Yep, that's it, Al. You've got it." When I understand it, I know I can explain it to other people. When the scientists' predictions end up being true, I see that as an opportunity to say to people, "Listen carefully to what they're saying now."” [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding complex science through patient explanation builds confidence and enables clear communication of predictions. **In simple terms:** Explain science simply to learn and teach. Key Takeaway Seek mentors, ask for simplifications. Themes learning communication science Mood analytical motivational Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - education - public speaking - policy briefings Key Concepts cognitive psychology expertise transfer Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify your understanding? - Who can help simplify your work? A Different Perspective Complex topics may resist oversimplification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [End time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-time/) [End times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-times/) [I can read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can-read/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patience Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-explaining-4394021/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Scientists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-scientists-241268/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-experts-2318687/) [Scientists Predictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientists-predictions-4394020/) [Spend time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Understand Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-know-299353/) ## Related quotes > [“When the scientific experts finished giving their testimony, the presiding judge asked Van Meegeren if he had any comments...He then added dryly that, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lopez/when-the-scientific-experts-finished-giving-their-testimony-the/) [Jonathan Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lopez/) > [People who are scientists today are scientists in spite of the system, typically, not because of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/people-who-are-scientists-today-are-scientists-in-spite-of-the-system/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When the state cannot raise people as scientists, it raises people as martyrs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/when-the-state-cannot-raise-people-as-scientists-it-raises-people-as/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [People tend to compartmentalize themselves into IT people, and movie star people, and scientists, but when we share our perspectives about nature, we find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-nadkarni/people-tend-to-compartmentalize-themselves-into-it-people-and-movie/) [Nalini Nadkarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-nadkarni/) > [When you really understand that you are what you see and know, you do not run around the countryside thinking, "I am all this!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/when-you-really-understand-that-you-are-what-you-see-and-know-you-do/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [You may not talk enough because you think other people wont understand you, but know that I love you enough to always have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-j/you-may-not-talk-enough-because-you-think-other-people-wont/) [Janelle J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-j/) > [“People are afraid of anything they don't understand. When they understand, when they know the truth, they can do something about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-weil/people-are-afraid-of-anything-they-don-t-understand-when-they/) [Ann Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-weil/) > [“Knowing people you understand you do not know people at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galib-mammadov/knowing-people-you-understand-you-do-not-know-people-at-all/) [Galib Mammadov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galib-mammadov/) > [“The more we understand, the less we know each other!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fereidoon-yazdi/the-more-we-understand-the-less-we-know-each-other/) [Fereidoon Yazdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fereidoon-yazdi/) > [We understand and know the nature of some components of social media and media these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/we-understand-and-know-the-nature-of-some-components-of-social-media/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [“If you expect to find people who will understand you, you will grow murderous with disappointment. The best you’ll ever do is to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-finch/if-you-expect-to-find-people-who-will-understand-you-you-will-grow/) [Janet Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-finch/) > [There are some people who still don't understand. But I know by the end of my fulfillment they will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-kim/there-are-some-people-who-still-don-t-understand-but-i-know-by-the/) [Lil' Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-kim/) > [“They were the truth, so far as I can see." "But you cannot see very far, and what you do see you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mcdermott/they-were-the-truth-so-far-as-i-can-see-but-you-cannot-see-very-far/) [Shannon McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mcdermott/) > [“Before you go on any mission, you need to understand what you know, identify what you don’t know, and try to guess what could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/before-you-go-on-any-mission-you-need-to-understand-what-you-know/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [“You understand how much you know about a subject the moment you give explanations to someone who doesn't know anything about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/you-understand-how-much-you-know-about-a-subject-the-moment-you-give/) [Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/) ## More by Al Gore > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Mother Nature does not do bailouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/mother-nature-does-not-do-bailouts/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You know there's an old african proverb that i made up: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-know-there-s-an-old-african-proverb-that-i-made-up-if-you-want-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [One tragic example of the loss of forests and then water is found in Ethiopia. The amount of its forested land has decreased from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/one-tragic-example-of-the-loss-of-forests-and-then-water-is-found-in/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The ten hottest years in the atmospheric record, going back only 160 years, have been in the last eleven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-ten-hottest-years-in-the-atmospheric-record-going-back-only-160/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/when-you-talk-about-president-trump-the-cable-networks-turned-over-so/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are many who would much prefer that the word 'climate' never be mentioned and that the issue be eliminated from our national conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-many-who-would-much-prefer-that-the-word-climate-never-be/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [As many know, the Chinese expression for "crisis" consists of two characters side by side. The first is the symbol for "danger," the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-many-know-the-chinese-expression-for-crisis-consists-of-two/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-george-w-bush-has-a-warm-engaging-personality-but-you-know/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Explore all 447 Al Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More Being true quotes > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Intuitionists think that there are cases in which, say, some identity statement between real numbers is neither true nor false, even though we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-f-heck/intuitionists-think-that-there-are-cases-in-which-say-some-identity/) [Richard F. Heck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-f-heck/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I learned a tremendous amount about what was important to me as a head coach in that I was not in charge. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-learned-a-tremendous-amount-about-what-was-important-to-me-as-a/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [Life is all about being true to yourself and what you believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/life-is-all-about-being-true-to-yourself-and-what-you-believe-in/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [I have spent most of my life unlearning things that were proved not to be true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/i-have-spent-most-of-my-life-unlearning-things-that-were-proved-not/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [It seemed too good to be true. That's grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judah-smith/it-seemed-too-good-to-be-true-that-s-grace/) [Judah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judah-smith/) > [You create the happiness and the balance that you have, and your own power. This is one thing that I know to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/you-create-the-happiness-and-the-balance-that-you-have-and-your-own/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [History is nothing but gossip about the past, with the hope that it might be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/history-is-nothing-but-gossip-about-the-past-with-the-hope-that-it/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [It is not the responsibility of the enlightened teacher to bring the student to enlightenment. That may be true in the classroom, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-not-the-responsibility-of-the-enlightened-teacher-to-bring-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 1,447 Being true quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All I'm doing, all I have done for 40 years, is spend time with the best scientific experts, gain their confidence, and take advantage of their patience in explaining things to me over and over again in progressively simpler language that I can understand, so that I can read it back to them and get their sign off, where they say, \"Yep, that's it, Al. You've got it.\" When I understand it, I know I can explain it to other people. 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