--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And what greater might do we possess as…" description: "\"And what greater might do we possess as human beings than our capacity to question and to learn?\" — Ann Druyan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png" --- # And what greater might do we possess as human beings than… ![“And what greater might do we possess as human beings than our capacity to question and to learn?” quote by Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png) > “And what greater might do we possess as human beings than our capacity to question and to learn?” [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human capacity to question and learn defines our greatest potential and progress. **In simple terms:** Questioning fuels growth. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and continuous learning. Themes curiosity learning human potential growth Mood inquisitive hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - research - career development - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy education science innovation Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you challenge daily? - How does curiosity shape your life? A Different Perspective Unquestioned acceptance can hinder advancement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-capacity-1035645/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Greater Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater-possess-1707333/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Possess Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possess-human-4426343/) [Question Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-learn-3537577/) ## Related quotes > [We, as human beings, have the capacity for extreme cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/we-as-human-beings-have-the-capacity-for-extreme-cruelty/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [We are born to inquire into truth; it belongs to a greater to possess it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-are-born-to-inquire-into-truth-it-belongs-to-a-greater-to-possess/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/question-everything-learn-something-answer-nothing/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Ask a new question and you will learn new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-greenstein/ask-a-new-question-and-you-will-learn-new-things/) [George Greenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-greenstein/) > [I'm a tough manager. I question almost every assumption in what are hopefully pragmatic ways. The more you question, the more you learn and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-henry/i-m-a-tough-manager-i-question-almost-every-assumption-in-what-are/) [John W. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-henry/) > [“When life asks you a question, you learn. When you ask a question from life, you cry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-walecha/when-life-asks-you-a-question-you-learn-when-you-ask-a-question-from/) [Rajesh Walecha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-walecha/) > [It is highly possible that what is called 'talented behavior' is simply a greater individual capacity for experiencing. From this point of view, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/it-is-highly-possible-that-what-is-called-talented-behavior-is-simply/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Your capacity to say "No" determines your capacity to say "Yes" to greater things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/your-capacity-to-say-no-determines-your-capacity-to-say-yes-to/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/the-more-you-trust-and-rely-upon-the-spirit-the-greater-your-capacity/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-was-only-operating-at-about-80-of-my-capacity/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More by Ann Druyan > [We are living in a society that is totally dependent on science and high technology, and yet most of us are effectively alienated and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/we-are-living-in-a-society-that-is-totally-dependent-on-science-and/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [If you have a beating heart, that's good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/if-you-have-a-beating-heart-that-s-good-enough/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [“It's not for any one generation to see the completed picture. That's the point. The picture is never completed. There is always so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/it-s-not-for-any-one-generation-to-see-the-completed-picture-that-s/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [“Why do we separate the scientific, which is just a way of searching for the truth, from what we hold sacred, which are those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/why-do-we-separate-the-scientific-which-is-just-a-way-of-searching/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [I believe that we are a story-driven species and that we understand how things are put together, in the context of narrative. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/i-believe-that-we-are-a-story-driven-species-and-that-we-understand/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [The Universe revealed by science is one of far more awesome grandeur than any religion has ever posited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/the-universe-revealed-by-science-is-one-of-far-more-awesome-grandeur/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [No single step in the persuit of enlightenment should ever be considered sacred; only the search was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/no-single-step-in-the-persuit-of-enlightenment-should-ever-be/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [People think that if you are a scientist you have to give up that joy of discovery, that passion, that sense of the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/people-think-that-if-you-are-a-scientist-you-have-to-give-up-that-joy/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [Carl did not want to believe. He wanted to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/carl-did-not-want-to-believe-he-wanted-to-know/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [If you are searching for sacred knowledge and not just a palliative for your fears, then you will train yourself to be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/if-you-are-searching-for-sacred-knowledge-and-not-just-a-palliative/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [We smoked the way other American families would have wine with dinner. For us, it was our sacrament. It was something that made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/we-smoked-the-way-other-american-families-would-have-wine-with-dinner/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [The greatest thing that science teaches you is the law of unintended consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/the-greatest-thing-that-science-teaches-you-is-the-law-of-unintended/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [For most of the history of our species we were helpless to understand how nature works. We took every storm, drought, illness and comet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/for-most-of-the-history-of-our-species-we-were-helpless-to-understand/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [Contrary to the fantasies of the fundamentalists, there was no deathbed conversion, no last minute refuge taken in a comforting vision of a heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/contrary-to-the-fantasies-of-the-fundamentalists-there-was-no/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) > [The only gratification that science denies to us is deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/the-only-gratification-that-science-denies-to-us-is-deception/) [Ann Druyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) [Explore all 49 Ann Druyan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/) ## More Capacity quotes > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I was only operating at about 80% of my capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-was-only-operating-at-about-80-of-my-capacity/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [“Teach honesty by all means - you do know what it is, don't you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/teach-honesty-by-all-means-you-do-know-what-it-is-don-t-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [he cult of productivity has its place, but worshipping at its altar daily robs us of the very capacity for joy and wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/he-cult-of-productivity-has-its-place-but-worshipping-at-its-altar/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,320 Capacity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And what greater might do we possess as human beings than our capacity to question and to learn?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ann Druyan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as-human-beings-than-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capacity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as-human-beings-than-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/343/ann-druyan-13605_capacity_and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as_2136082.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And what greater might do we possess as human beings than our capacity to question and to learn?” — Ann Druyan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ann Druyan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-druyan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And what greater might do we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as-human-beings-than-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-druyan/and-what-greater-might-do-we-possess-as-human-beings-than-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```