--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An understanding of the natural world and…" description: "\"An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.\" — David Attenborough" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg" --- # An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is… ![“An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” quote by David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg) > “An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing nature sparks curiosity and deep personal satisfaction. **In simple terms:** Nature knowledge brings joy. Key Takeaway Explore and learn about ecosystems. Themes curiosity fulfillment environment Mood inspired reflective Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - wildlife observation - science education - outdoor activities Key Concepts Ecology wonder learning Questions to Reflect On - How does curiosity translate into action? - What fulfills you about nature? A Different Perspective Understanding alone doesn't protect ecosystems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Natural world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-world/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Wealth is a deep understanding of the natural world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/wealth-is-a-deep-understanding-of-the-natural-world/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [I'm extremely interested in science as the mythos within which I live. Science tells me what kind of animal I am, what kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-hawthorne-deming/i-m-extremely-interested-in-science-as-the-mythos-within-which-i-live/) [Alison Hawthorne Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-hawthorne-deming/) > [ “\[T\]he nature of science is not that of a steady, linear progression toward the Truth, but rather a tortuous road, often characterized by dead… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/t-he-nature-of-science-is-not-that-of-a-steady-linear-progression/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [People have asked me whether I have a science background. No, but I have a great curiosity about the kinds of things we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-graves/people-have-asked-me-whether-i-have-a-science-background-no-but-i/) [Peter Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-graves/) > [I have a great curiosity to see new things, but not to own them. It's very peaceful this way, and one of the nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-radziwill/i-have-a-great-curiosity-to-see-new-things-but-not-to-own-them-it-s/) [Lee Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-radziwill/) > [It's about human imagination and curiosity. What's out there? What's in the great beyond? What exists at levels we can't see with our five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/it-s-about-human-imagination-and-curiosity-what-s-out-there-what-s-in/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [Curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first passion and the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-in-great-and-generous-minds-the-first-passion-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I agree that science is the best way of understanding the natural world, and therefore that we have reason to believe what the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-scanlon/i-agree-that-science-is-the-best-way-of-understanding-the-natural/) T. M. Scanlon > [Science offers us the possibility of understanding natural rhythms and events that must have seemed like the work of angry and unpredictable gods to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/science-offers-us-the-possibility-of-understanding-natural-rhythms/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Better understanding of the natural world not only enhances all of us as human beings, but can also be harnessed for the better good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/better-understanding-of-the-natural-world-not-only-enhances-all-of-us/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I just had a great curiosity about how things worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/i-just-had-a-great-curiosity-about-how-things-worked/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [“...and I had a great curiosity to talk to the books, as I thought they did; and so to learn how all things had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaudah-equiano/and-i-had-a-great-curiosity-to-talk-to-the-books-as-i-thought-they/) Olaudah Equiano > [Anonymity usually arouses a great interest and curiosity but on the background of extraordinary style of writing mixed with brilliant humour the question about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kotlesya/anonymity-usually-arouses-a-great-interest-and-curiosity-but-on-the/) [Kotlesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kotlesya/) > [“I had often seen my master and Dick employed in reading; and I had a great curiosity to talk to the books, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaudah-equianom/i-had-often-seen-my-master-and-dick-employed-in-reading-and-i-had-a/) Olaudah Equianom > [A man with a great curiosity will never get bored even if he lives millions years!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-man-with-a-great-curiosity-will-never-get-bored-even-if-he-lives/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by David Attenborough > [I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-just-wish-the-world-was-twice-as-big-and-half-of-it-was-still/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I'm against this huge globalisation on the basis of economic advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-m-against-this-huge-globalisation-on-the-basis-of-economic-advantage/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/bringing-nature-into-the-classroom-can-kindle-a-fascination-and/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I don't approve of sunbathing, and it's bad for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-don-t-approve-of-sunbathing-and-it-s-bad-for-you/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I suspect that happiness is not a state but rather a transition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suspect-that-happiness-is-not-a-state-but-rather-a-transition/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I don't like rats, but there's not much else I don't like. The problem with rats is they have no fear of human beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-don-t-like-rats-but-there-s-not-much-else-i-don-t-like-the-problem/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [“We only know a tiny proportion about the complexity of the natural world. Wherever you look, there are still things we don’t know about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/we-only-know-a-tiny-proportion-about-the-complexity-of-the-natural/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [At a time when it's possible for thirty people to stand on the top of Everest in one day, Antarctica still remains a remote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/at-a-time-when-it-s-possible-for-thirty-people-to-stand-on-the-top-of/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I suffer much less than many of my colleagues. I am perfectly able to go to Australia and film within three hours of arrival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-suffer-much-less-than-many-of-my-colleagues-i-am-perfectly-able-to/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [I'm not over-fond of animals. I am merely astounded by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/i-m-not-over-fond-of-animals-i-am-merely-astounded-by-them/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [Television of course actually started in Britain in 1936, and it was a monopoly, and there was only one broadcaster and it operated on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/television-of-course-actually-started-in-britain-in-1936-and-it-was-a/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [It's extraordinary how self-obsessed human beings are. The things that people always go on about is, 'tell us about us', 'tell us about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/it-s-extraordinary-how-self-obsessed-human-beings-are-the-things-that/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [This last chapter .. may have given the impression that somehow man is the ultimate triumph of evolution, that all these millions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/this-last-chapter-may-have-given-the-impression-that-somehow-man-is/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [To suggest that God specifically created a worm to torture small African children is blasphemy as far as I can see. The Archbishop of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/to-suggest-that-god-specifically-created-a-worm-to-torture-small/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [In the Baboon community, it is not how strong you are that is important, but who you know that counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/in-the-baboon-community-it-is-not-how-strong-you-are-that-is/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) [Explore all 168 David Attenborough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) ## More Curiosity quotes > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Curiosity Can Kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anison/curiosity-can-kill/) [Anison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anison/) > [“So curious you must be. Like little calves poking their heads through the fence with big eyes and a headful of curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/so-curious-you-must-be-like-little-calves-poking-their-heads-through/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [ “\[T\]he question "What is everything?" has no meaning, even though it seems to be profound. \[...\] The point is, perhaps, that I am not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-watts/t-he-question-what-is-everything-has-no-meaning-even-though-it-seems/) [Alan W. Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-watts/) > [ By profession a biologist, \[Thomas Henry Huxley\] covered in fact the whole field of the exact sciences, and then bulged through its four fences.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/by-profession-a-biologist-thomas-henry-huxley-covered-in-fact-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Be curious not judge mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/be-curious-not-judge-mental/) Unknow > [There is nothing so carking as the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/there-is-nothing-so-carking-as-the-pangs-of-unsatisfied-curiosity/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes curiosity is a poison, not only for those who drink it but for everyone around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-norman-lippert/sometimes-curiosity-is-a-poison-not-only-for-those-who-drink-it-but/) [G. Norman Lippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-norman-lippert/) > [As long as your curiosity is greater than your fear, you will move forward!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/as-long-as-your-curiosity-is-greater-than-your-fear-you-will-move/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure has earned a lot of people graduate degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-irving/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-sure-has-earned-a-lot-of/) Robyn Irving [Browse all 2,721 Curiosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Attenborough" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-and-what-s-in-it-is-a-source-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Curiosity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-and-what-s-in-it-is-a-source-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b6/david-attenborough-2396_curiosity_an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-an_1258297.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great…” — David Attenborough", "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": "David Attenborough", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An understanding of the natural world...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-and-what-s-in-it-is-a-source-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/an-understanding-of-the-natural-world-and-what-s-in-it-is-a-source-of/#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 } } ] } ```