--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our near absolute dominion over nature…" description: "\"“Our near absolute dominion over nature has, however, confronted us with one brilliant and ironic and inescapable insight. The decryption of DNA is not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/christopher-hitchens-117_nature_our-near-absolute-dominion-over-nature-h_1946100.jpg" --- # Our near absolute dominion over nature has, however… ![“Our near absolute dominion over nature has, however, confronted us with one brilliant and ironic and inescapable insight. The decryption of DNA is not only useful in putting a merciful but overdue end to theories of creationism and racism but also enlightening in instructing us that we are…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/christopher-hitchens-117_nature_our-near-absolute-dominion-over-nature-h_1946100.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/christopher-hitchens-117_nature_our-near-absolute-dominion-over-nature-h_1946100.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21d/christopher-hitchens-117_nature_our-near-absolute-dominion-over-nature-h_1946100.jpg) > ““Our near absolute dominion over nature has, however, confronted us with one brilliant and ironic and inescapable insight. The decryption of DNA is not only useful in putting a merciful but overdue end to theories of creationism and racism but also enlightening in instructing us that we are ourselves animals.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding DNA shows we share animal origins, challenging creationist and racist narratives while emphasizing our biological unity. **In simple terms:** DNA reveals we’re all animals, undermining division. Key Takeaway Recognize shared biology to combat prejudice. Themes science humanism identity equality Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - public policy - interfaith dialogue - anti‑racism campaigns Key Concepts genetics evolutionary biology Questions to Reflect On - How does genetic knowledge affect moral views? - What responsibilities arise from our animal nature? A Different Perspective Scientific evidence can be misused for new hierarchies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creationism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creationism/) [Decryption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decryption-2421091/) [Decryption Dna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decryption-dna-3129290/) [Dna Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dna-useful-3129291/) [Insight Decryption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight-decryption-3129292/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“When using symmetric algorithms, the sender and receiver use the same key for encryption and decryption functions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shon-harris/when-using-symmetric-algorithms-the-sender-and-receiver-use-the-same/) [Shon Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shon-harris/) > [It is clear to me that creating a pathway for decryption only for good guys is technologically stupid. You just can't do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/it-is-clear-to-me-that-creating-a-pathway-for-decryption-only-for/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [“At least two important conservative thinkers, Ayn Rand and Leo Strauss, were unbelievers or nonbelievers and in any case contemptuous of Christianity. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/at-least-two-important-conservative-thinkers-ayn-rand-and-leo-strauss/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“That scientifically savvy philosopher Daniel Dennett pointed out that evolution counters one of the oldest ideas we have: 'the idea that it takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/that-scientifically-savvy-philosopher-daniel-dennett-pointed-out-that/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As commonly understood, creationism involves belief in an earth formed only about ten thousand years ago, an interpretation of the Bible that is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/as-commonly-understood-creationism-involves-belief-in-an-earth-formed/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [“The problem Creationists identify is with the word 'theory', not with the case for evolution”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-parkin/the-problem-creationists-identify-is-with-the-word-theory-not-with/) [Lance Parkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-parkin/) > [Whether you understand they evolved over billions of years or believe that a God made them all one afternoon, please be kind to animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/whether-you-understand-they-evolved-over-billions-of-years-or-believe/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“Oh golly, Brer Fox, your forthright assertion—that evolutionary biology disproves the idea of a creator God—jeopardises the teaching of biology in science class, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/oh-golly-brer-fox-your-forthright-assertion-that-evolutionary-biology/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Darwin theorized that mankind (both male and female) evolved alongside each other over millions of years, both reproducing after their own kind before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/darwin-theorized-that-mankind-both-male-and-female-evolved-alongside/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“New Rule: You don't have to teach both sides of a debate if one side is a load of crap. President Bush recently suggested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-you-don-t-have-to-teach-both-sides-of-a-debate-if-one-side/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“Q: But what do you think that the Bible, itself, says? Don't you know how it was arrived at? A: I never made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scopes-trial/q-but-what-do-you-think-that-the-bible-itself-says-don-t-you-know-how/) [Scopes Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scopes-trial/) > [“According to Dembski, for example, “scientific creationism has prior religious commitments whereas intelligent design does not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/according-to-dembski-for-example-scientific-creationism-has-prior/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Tax dollars intended for science education must not be used to teach creationism as any sort of real explanation of nature, because any observation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/tax-dollars-intended-for-science-education-must-not-be-used-to-teach/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [“The only part of evolution in which any considerable interest is felt is evolution applied to man. A hypothesis in regard to the rocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-only-part-of-evolution-in-which-any-considerable-interest-is-felt/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [I was raised in a Christian household and went to a Christian high school, so I believe in creationism, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/i-was-raised-in-a-christian-household-and-went-to-a-christian-high/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Creationism quotes > [I was raised in a Christian household and went to a Christian high school, so I believe in creationism, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/i-was-raised-in-a-christian-household-and-went-to-a-christian-high/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [“The only part of evolution in which any considerable interest is felt is evolution applied to man. A hypothesis in regard to the rocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/the-only-part-of-evolution-in-which-any-considerable-interest-is-felt/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Tax dollars intended for science education must not be used to teach creationism as any sort of real explanation of nature, because any observation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/tax-dollars-intended-for-science-education-must-not-be-used-to-teach/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [“According to Dembski, for example, “scientific creationism has prior religious commitments whereas intelligent design does not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/according-to-dembski-for-example-scientific-creationism-has-prior/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [“Q: But what do you think that the Bible, itself, says? Don't you know how it was arrived at? A: I never made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scopes-trial/q-but-what-do-you-think-that-the-bible-itself-says-don-t-you-know-how/) [Scopes Trial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scopes-trial/) > [“New Rule: You don't have to teach both sides of a debate if one side is a load of crap. President Bush recently suggested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-you-don-t-have-to-teach-both-sides-of-a-debate-if-one-side/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“Darwin theorized that mankind (both male and female) evolved alongside each other over millions of years, both reproducing after their own kind before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/darwin-theorized-that-mankind-both-male-and-female-evolved-alongside/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“Oh golly, Brer Fox, your forthright assertion—that evolutionary biology disproves the idea of a creator God—jeopardises the teaching of biology in science class, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/oh-golly-brer-fox-your-forthright-assertion-that-evolutionary-biology/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Whether you understand they evolved over billions of years or believe that a God made them all one afternoon, please be kind to animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/whether-you-understand-they-evolved-over-billions-of-years-or-believe/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“The problem Creationists identify is with the word 'theory', not with the case for evolution”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-parkin/the-problem-creationists-identify-is-with-the-word-theory-not-with/) [Lance Parkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-parkin/) > [As commonly understood, creationism involves belief in an earth formed only about ten thousand years ago, an interpretation of the Bible that is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-behe/as-commonly-understood-creationism-involves-belief-in-an-earth-formed/) [Michael Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-behe/) > [“That scientifically savvy philosopher Daniel Dennett pointed out that evolution counters one of the oldest ideas we have: 'the idea that it takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/that-scientifically-savvy-philosopher-daniel-dennett-pointed-out-that/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Ever noticed that people who believe in Creationism look really unevolved?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ever-noticed-that-people-who-believe-in-creationism-look-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The human body has been called the microcosm of the universe, a little world of wonders and a monument of divine wisdom and power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/the-human-body-has-been-called-the-microcosm-of-the-universe-a-little/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [“Through all this world strode Vishnu: thrice his foot he planted, and the whole world was gathered in his footsteps. Vishnu, the guardian, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veda/through-all-this-world-strode-vishnu-thrice-his-foot-he-planted-and/) [Veda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veda/) [Browse all 139 Creationism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creationism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our near absolute dominion over nature has, however, confronted us with one brilliant and ironic and inescapable insight. 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