« All Genes Quotes · Steven Pinker's Page
Genes Quotes by Steven Pinker
- Genetically influenced behavior is not necessarily good and not necessarily unchangeable. Explanations of bad behavior that appeal to genes do not absolve a person any…
- But in most cases even the possibility that the correlations reflect shared genes is taboo.
- Heritability pertains to the entirety of the genome, not to a single gene.
- The brain is not a bag of traits. It's startlingly complex. There are few or no single genes with a consistent effect on the mind.
- Parents provide their children with genes as well as an environment, so the fact that talkative parents have kids with good language skills could simply…
- There's a common criticism of evolutionary psychology that it's fatalistic and it dooms us to eternal strife, 'Why even try to work toward peace if…
- Evolutionary psychologists seem to want to unmask our noblest motives as ultimately self-interested - to show that our love for children, compassion for the unfortunate…
- No one knows what the nongenetic causes of individuality are. Perhaps people are shaped by modifications of genes that take place after conception, or by…
- Obviously no language is innate. Take any kid from any race, bring them up in any culture and they will learn the language equally quickly.…
- Of course, genes can't pull the levers of our behavior directly. But they affect the wiring and workings of the brain, and the brain is…
- So no, it's not all in the genes, but what isn't in the genes isn't in the family environment either. It can't be explained in…
- Just as blueprints don't necessarily specify blue buildings, selfish genes don't necessarily specify selfish organisms. As we shall see, sometimes the most selfish thing a…
- Of course genes can’t pull the levers of our behavior directly. But they affect the wiring and workings of the brain, and the brain is…
More Genes Quotes
- If you watch animals objectively for any length of time, you're driven to the conclusion that their main aim in life is… — David Attenborough
- On buses and trains, I always think about the inexhaustible variety of human genes. We see types, and occasionally twins, but never… — A. S. Byatt
- Character, I am sure, lies in the genes. — Taylor Caldwell
- God, our genes, our environment, or some stupid programmer keying in code at an ancient terminal - there's no way free will… — Orson Scott Card
- I just want people to remember me like I remember Buster Keaton. When they talk about Buster Keaton or Gene Kelly, people… — Jackie Chan
- From a scientist's perspective, to understand everything that you need to know about human beings, you only have to tinker with all… — Deepak Chopra
- My grandfather and my uncle both died from colorectal cancer, my dad almost died from it and I have the gene for… — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
- I think you can write very good comedy without a partner, but what I love about it, working with a partner, is… — John Cleese
- I think it's the most responsible thing you can do, to have kids. It's not something to be taken lightly. I don't… — George Clooney
- I wanted to be Gene Kelly. Well really, I just wanted to dance with Cyd Charisse. — Robin Cousins
- Of course it is a very simple matter to identify genes which might modify intelligence or memory and start thinking about whether… — Robert Winston
- I love this child. Red-haired - patient and gentle like her mother - fey and funny like her father. When she giggles… — Robert Fulghum