--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because we aren't certain about the…" description: "\"Because we aren't certain about the effects of GMOs, we must consider one of the guiding principles in science, the precautionary principle. Under this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/david-suzuki-1744_action_because-we-aren-t-certain-about-the-effe_3032478.jpg" --- # Because we aren't certain about the effects of GMOs, we… ![“Because we aren't certain about the effects of GMOs, we must consider one of the guiding principles in science, the precautionary principle. Under this principle, if a policy or action could harm human health or the environment, we must not proceed until we know for sure what the impact will be…” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/david-suzuki-1744_action_because-we-aren-t-certain-about-the-effe_3032478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/david-suzuki-1744_action_because-we-aren-t-certain-about-the-effe_3032478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/david-suzuki-1744_action_because-we-aren-t-certain-about-the-effe_3032478.jpg) > “Because we aren't certain about the effects of GMOs, we must consider one of the guiding principles in science, the precautionary principle. Under this principle, if a policy or action could harm human health or the environment, we must not proceed until we know for sure what the impact will be. And it is up to those proposing the action or policy to prove that it is not harmful.” [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The precautionary principle says we should avoid actions that might cause harm until we have clear evidence they are safe, placing the burden of proof on proponents. **In simple terms:** Avoid risky actions until safety is proven. Key Takeaway Demand proof of safety before proceeding. Themes ethics science policy environment risk management Mood cautious responsible analytical Type policy ethical environmental When to use this quote - regulatory decisions - product development - public health policy - environmental impact assessments Key Concepts precautionary principle burden of proof risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - Who should bear the burden of proof? - How to balance precaution with progress? A Different Perspective It may slow innovation and delay beneficial technologies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Effects Gmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects-gmos-4960491/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Genetically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetically/) [Gmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gmos/) [Gmos Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gmos-consider-4960492/) [Guiding principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-principles/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Human health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-health/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Precautionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precautionary/) [Precautionary Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precautionary-principle-1207219/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Precautionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-precautionary-4960493/) ## Related quotes > [“Multiple international bodies have specified that the absence of scientific evidence of potential damage is not sufficient justification for taking risks. As the jurist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/multiple-international-bodies-have-specified-that-the-absence-of/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Instead of embracing change, the E.U.'s precautionary principle has held back progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/instead-of-embracing-change-the-e-u-s-precautionary-principle-has/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [We haven't developed what some have called the precautionary principle which will say look, if there's a reason, if a product is safe, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rosner/we-haven-t-developed-what-some-have-called-the-precautionary/) [David Rosner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rosner/) > [No precautions, and no precautionary principle, can avoid problems that we do not yet foresee. We need a stance of problem-fixing, not just problem-avoidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deutsch/no-precautions-and-no-precautionary-principle-can-avoid-problems-that/) [David Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deutsch/) > [Any scientist who tells you they know that GMOs are safe and not to worry about it, is either ignorant of the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/any-scientist-who-tells-you-they-know-that-gmos-are-safe-and-not-to/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [ Any politician or scientist who tells you these \[GMO\] products are safe is either very stupid or lying. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/any-politician-or-scientist-who-tells-you-these-gmo-products-are-safe/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Imagination is vital to precautionary judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-faickney-osborn/imagination-is-vital-to-precautionary-judgement/) [Alex Faickney Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-faickney-osborn/) > [“Precautionary measure. With those words any deaths could be justified. Better to destroy your own people than there be a chance a German soldier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rob-smith/precautionary-measure-with-those-words-any-deaths-could-be-justified/) [Tom Rob Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rob-smith/) > [“Prudence is precaution, prudence is protection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/prudence-is-precaution-prudence-is-protection/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“We did not evolve by precautionary living, nor by hanging back for lack or certainty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irv-thomas/we-did-not-evolve-by-precautionary-living-nor-by-hanging-back-for/) [Irv Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irv-thomas/) > [Precautions are better After happen the unexpected things than is precautionary should be taken for never happens for the unexpected things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/precautions-are-better-after-happen-the-unexpected-things-than-is/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“The mistakes of the world are warning message for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-mistakes-of-the-world-are-warning-message-for-you/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Many of the genetically modified foods will be safe, I'm sure. Will most of them be safe? Nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/many-of-the-genetically-modified-foods-will-be-safe-i-m-sure-will/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [As a scientist I cannot say we don't want to hear anything about GMOs, because these are advances in science. But I think its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/as-a-scientist-i-cannot-say-we-don-t-want-to-hear-anything-about-gmos/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [We hear, "Oh, we need to patent GMOs and develop new strains and new chemicals because Nature can't provide what we need." I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-moore-lapp/we-hear-oh-we-need-to-patent-gmos-and-develop-new-strains-and-new/) [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) ## More by David Suzuki > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Over and over, we hear politicians say they can't spend our tax dollars on environmental protection when the economy is so fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/over-and-over-we-hear-politicians-say-they-can-t-spend-our-tax/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Each of us now has 2.27 kg (5 lbs) of plastic embedded in our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/each-of-us-now-has-2-27-kg-5-lbs-of-plastic-embedded-in-our-bodies/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/nature-surrounds-us-from-parks-and-backyards-to-streets-and-alleyways/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The human brain had a vast memory storage. It made us curious and very creative. Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-human-brain-had-a-vast-memory-storage-it-made-us-curious-and-very/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-pollute-the-air-water-and-soil-that-keep-us-alive-and-well-and/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The one thing I feel is very hopeful, however, is the overwhelming participation of women in the movement for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-one-thing-i-feel-is-very-hopeful-however-is-the-overwhelming/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“As we distance ourselves further from the natural world, we are increasingly surrounded by and dependent on our own inventions. We become enslaved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/as-we-distance-ourselves-further-from-the-natural-world-we-are/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/with-an-estimated-population-of-nine-billion-people-by-2050-we-cannot/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-has-failed/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) [Explore all 212 David Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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