--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science doesn't tell us what we should…" description: "\"Science doesn't tell us what we should do. It only tells us what is.\" — Barbara Kingsolver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/barbara-kingsolver-200_science_science-doesn-t-tell-us-what-we-should-d_2170138.png" --- # Science doesn't tell us what we should do. It only tells… ![“Science doesn't tell us what we should do. It only tells us what is.” quote by Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/barbara-kingsolver-200_science_science-doesn-t-tell-us-what-we-should-d_2170138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/barbara-kingsolver-200_science_science-doesn-t-tell-us-what-we-should-d_2170138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/barbara-kingsolver-200_science_science-doesn-t-tell-us-what-we-should-d_2170138.png) > “Science doesn't tell us what we should do. It only tells us what is.” [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science describes facts, not values; moral guidance comes from philosophy or personal belief. **In simple terms:** Science tells what is, not what to do. Key Takeaway Seek ethical frameworks beyond data. Themes ethics science philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type explanatory reflective When to use this quote - policy making - personal decisions - education - public debate - null Key Concepts epistemology normative theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what is right beyond data? - What role should science play in moral debates? A Different Perspective Science cannot dictate values, only inform them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doesn Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-tell-332152/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-doesn-276821/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Tell Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-tells-3676949/) [Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells/) ## Related quotes > [Blood will tell, but often it tells too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-marquis/blood-will-tell-but-often-it-tells-too-much/) [Don Marquis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-marquis/) > [“Just because you deny facts and science doesn't mean they aren't true”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-corn/just-because-you-deny-facts-and-science-doesn-t-mean-they-aren-t-true/) [Johnny Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-corn/) > [“The cloth cap on my head doesn't tell what's in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet/the-cloth-cap-on-my-head-doesn-t-tell-what-s-in-it/) [Nâzım Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet/) > [No one tells me what to do with my music. Real. My mom doesn't tell what to say, how is someone else going to?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-bunny/no-one-tells-me-what-to-do-with-my-music-real-my-mom-doesn-t-tell/) [Bad Bunny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-bunny/) > [Some things a lady doesn't tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hunter/some-things-a-lady-doesn-t-tell/) [Kim Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hunter/) > [We the people tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-the-people-tell-the-government-what-to-do-it-doesn-t-tell-us/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Whatever you know about here it doesn't tell you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/whatever-you-know-about-here-it-doesn-t-tell-you/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [A Real Boyfriend doesn't tell his girl how he's gonna treat her, he shows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-doesn-t-tell-his-girl-how-he-s-gonna-treat-her-he/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [“Nature doesn't tell you what's wrong. 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He doesn’t touch your skin or look into your eyes, and tell you you’re the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-noelle/he-doesn-t-say-he-loves-you-at-all-he-doesn-t-touch-your-skin-or-look/) [Amy Noelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-noelle/) > [I'm not a mind reader, your unspoken words doesn't tell me anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-m-not-a-mind-reader-your-unspoken-words-doesn-t-tell-me-anything-at/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [It (a baseball box score) doesn't tell how big you are, what church you attend, what color you are, or how your father voted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/it-a-baseball-box-score-doesn-t-tell-how-big-you-are-what-church-you/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) ## More by Barbara Kingsolver > [“Jesus was a more reliable backer, evidently, less likely to drink himself unconscious or get liver cancer. 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