--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we humans are good at anything, it’s…" description: "\"If we humans are good at anything, it’s thinking we’ve got a terrific idea and going for it without acknowledging the potential consequences or our own..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba4/david-suzuki-1744_consequence_if-we-humans-are-good-at-anything-it-s-t_1946288.jpg" --- # If we humans are good at anything, it’s thinking we’ve got… ![“If we humans are good at anything, it’s thinking we’ve got a terrific idea and going for it without acknowledging the potential consequences or our own ignorance.” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba4/david-suzuki-1744_consequence_if-we-humans-are-good-at-anything-it-s-t_1946288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba4/david-suzuki-1744_consequence_if-we-humans-are-good-at-anything-it-s-t_1946288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba4/david-suzuki-1744_consequence_if-we-humans-are-good-at-anything-it-s-t_1946288.jpg) > “If we humans are good at anything, it’s thinking we’ve got a terrific idea and going for it without acknowledging the potential consequences or our own ignorance.” [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. People often pursue ideas without fully considering risks or their own lack of knowledge, leading to unintended consequences. **In simple terms:** We act on ideas without seeing the risks. Key Takeaway Pause, assess risks before acting. Themes innovation risk humility Mood thoughtful cautionary Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - project planning - policy making - personal goals Key Concepts cognitive bias unknown unknowns decision making Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you overlooking? - How can you balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Good thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thinking/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I've always believed that humans are good at heart. 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That’s about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/no-humans-are-good-at-growing-bones-toenails-and-cancer-that-s-about/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [Humans are very good at dreaming, although you'd never know it from your television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/humans-are-very-good-at-dreaming-although-you-d-never-know-it-from/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“What makes us humans? We are not good or bad. We are yes, no, and maybe all at once. Machines are neither good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/what-makes-us-humans-we-are-not-good-or-bad-we-are-yes-no-and-maybe/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [“God is great ,humans are good ... wait... but i'm bad & You are worst..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland-dave/god-is-great-humans-are-good-wait-but-i-m-bad-you-are-worst/) Brenda Ueland\_ dave > [Emotional intelligence is what humans are good at and that's not a sideshow. That's the cutting edge of human intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/emotional-intelligence-is-what-humans-are-good-at-and-that-s-not-a/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [Humans are very good at making algorithms work eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usama-fayyad/humans-are-very-good-at-making-algorithms-work-eventually/) [Usama Fayyad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usama-fayyad/) > [“Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/still-they-have-one-thing-i-envy-humans-if-nothing-else-have-the-good/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“If humans were good at anything, he thought, it was sure as hell good old running.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-benford/if-humans-were-good-at-anything-he-thought-it-was-sure-as-hell-good/) [Gregory Benford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-benford/) > [Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/humans-if-nothing-else-have-the-good-sense-to-die/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I love you, Red. Whatever happens after this, I want you to know I love you more than the sun and the stars. You’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/i-love-you-red-whatever-happens-after-this-i-want-you-to-know-i-love/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [“I wasn't exactly sure what "nothing good" meant, but I could imagine in this world of humans, "nothing good" could mean a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamra-torero/i-wasn-t-exactly-sure-what-nothing-good-meant-but-i-could-imagine-in/) Tamra Torero > [“Let us All make the whole WORLD a better place, pursue our dreams...bond LOVE to the spirit, embrace the young and old. LOVE... creates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marialuisa-marino/let-us-all-make-the-whole-world-a-better-place-pursue-our-dreams-bond/) Marialuisa Marino > [Though 'Moneyball' had the talents of screenwriters Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin going for it, they weren't baseball insiders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/though-moneyball-had-the-talents-of-screenwriters-steven-zaillian-and/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) ## 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. 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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. 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And the second rule is this - you are the only one responsible for your own actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/actions-have-consequences-first-rule-of-life-and-the-second-rule-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [There is no silver bullet. 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