--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, the natural sciences are telling us…" description: "\"Yes, the natural sciences are telling us a great deal about human origins, the origins of our species the origins of our minds; we're on our way to exp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/e-o-wilson-1348_accepting_yes-the-natural-sciences-are-telling-us_338082.png" --- # Yes, the natural sciences are telling us a great deal… ![“Yes, the natural sciences are telling us a great deal about human origins, the origins of our species the origins of our minds; we're on our way to explaining a large part of it. I'll accept an answer provided only by such means as obtaining and exploring, analyzing and arguing over the evidence…” quote by E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/e-o-wilson-1348_accepting_yes-the-natural-sciences-are-telling-us_338082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/e-o-wilson-1348_accepting_yes-the-natural-sciences-are-telling-us_338082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/e-o-wilson-1348_accepting_yes-the-natural-sciences-are-telling-us_338082.png) > “Yes, the natural sciences are telling us a great deal about human origins, the origins of our species the origins of our minds; we're on our way to explaining a large part of it. I'll accept an answer provided only by such means as obtaining and exploring, analyzing and arguing over the evidence - not because of a scribe's myopic view of the subject written 500 years before the birth of Christ!” [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wilson emphasizes that scientific methods, not ancient texts, should explain human origins and mind. **In simple terms:** Science, not old writings, should explain us. Key Takeaway Prioritize evidence‑based inquiry. Themes science evolution knowledge methodology history Mood analytical thoughtful Type academic inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - education curricula - public policy debates - science communication Key Concepts evolutionary biology philosophy of science empiricism Questions to Reflect On - What evidence most challenges current evolutionary theories? - How can we integrate cultural history with scientific findings? A Different Perspective Historical perspectives still influence modern thinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Analyzing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analyzing/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Birth Of Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth-of-christ/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Explaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explaining/) [Exploring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploring/) [Human Origins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-origins-337549/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Myopic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myopic/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-science/) [Obtaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obtaining/) [Origins Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origins-minds-3147883/) [Origins Origins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/origins-origins-3147885/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Sciences Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sciences-telling-3147882/) [Scribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scribes/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Origins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-origins-3147884/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [To prevent discussion of any other explanations of human origins is hardly what I would expect from open-minded educators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/to-prevent-discussion-of-any-other-explanations-of-human-origins-is/) [Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/) > [“THE GREATEST MYSTERY OF ALL TIME… THE HISTORY OF HUMAN ORIGINS… WILL BE REVEALED. 70,000 years ago, the human race almost went extinct. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-riddle/the-greatest-mystery-of-all-time-the-history-of-human-origins-will-be/) [A.G. Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/) > [When I realized, in 1978, that Lucy did represent a new species of human ancestor, and that I had an opportunity to name this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-johanson/when-i-realized-in-1978-that-lucy-did-represent-a-new-species-of/) [Donald Johanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-johanson/) > [I find a tremendous receptivity among the public for the subject matter of, 'Where did we come from and how did we get here?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-johanson/i-find-a-tremendous-receptivity-among-the-public-for-the-subject/) [Donald Johanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-johanson/) > [Yogi Bear - there's everything before Yogi Bear and there's everything after Yogi Bear. Like a major car accident, or the birth of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/yogi-bear-there-s-everything-before-yogi-bear-and-there-s-everything/) [T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/) > [In the southern hemisphere, covering the Christmas tree with fake snow even though winter has nothing to do with the birth of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/in-the-southern-hemisphere-covering-the-christmas-tree-with-fake-snow/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The author is aware that the essence of the Christian faith is perfectly independent of his criticism. The supernatural birth of Christ, his miracles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-friedrich-strauss/the-author-is-aware-that-the-essence-of-the-christian-faith-is/) [David Friedrich Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-friedrich-strauss/) > [“By 2025, even drug dealers will not take cash. South Korea plans to have no cash at all by 2020.1 In Sweden, the European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-peretti/by-2025-even-drug-dealers-will-not-take-cash-south-korea-plans-to/) [Jacques Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-peretti/) > [“the motto “Shop less, live more, save the earth,” the team at Operation Noah, anxious about climate change, is promoting a series of events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-bowler/the-motto-shop-less-live-more-save-the-earth-the-team-at-operation/) [Gerry Bowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-bowler/) > [“It has been said that Christmas is for children; but as the years of childhood fancy pass away and an understanding maturity takes their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/it-has-been-said-that-christmas-is-for-children-but-as-the-years-of/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [“versions of popular Christmas carols that one James Dodson produced in the 1990s. Take, for example, “God Keep of All You Protestants” (sung to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-bowler/versions-of-popular-christmas-carols-that-one-james-dodson-produced/) [Gerry Bowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-bowler/) > [“upload a recent photo”, some people interpreted that to mean anytime after the birth of Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-walker-bos/upload-a-recent-photo-some-people-interpreted-that-to-mean-anytime/) [Christie Walker Bos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-walker-bos/) > [Most people think of January 1st as the start of a new year. To people who espouse to Catholicism and Christianity, they might correlate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/most-people-think-of-january-1st-as-the-start-of-a-new-year-to-people/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [“Isolationists believed that the ancient civilizations all developed independent of one another. Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, China, Egypt—all crossed a threshold into civilization about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doherty/isolationists-believed-that-the-ancient-civilizations-all-developed/) [Robert Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doherty/) > [The time draws near the birth of Christ; The moon is hid; the night is still; The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-time-draws-near-the-birth-of-christ-the-moon-is-hid-the-night-is/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## More by E. O. Wilson > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [It's always been a dream of mine, of exploring the living world, of classifying all the species and finding out what makes up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/it-s-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-of-exploring-the-living-world-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Competing is intense among humans, and within a group, selfish individuals always win. But in contests between groups, groups of altruists always beat groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/competing-is-intense-among-humans-and-within-a-group-selfish/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [When all else fails, men turn to reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/when-all-else-fails-men-turn-to-reason/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The commitment must be much deeper - to let no species knowingly die; to take all reasonable action to protect every species and race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-commitment-must-be-much-deeper-to-let-no-species-knowingly-die-to/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Science is not marginal. Like art, it is a universal possession of humanity, and scientific knowledge has become a vital part of our species'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/science-is-not-marginal-like-art-it-is-a-universal-possession-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The living environment is the biosphere, the thin layer around the world of living organisms. We're part of that. Our existence is dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-living-environment-is-the-biosphere-the-thin-layer-around-the/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The biological evolutionary perception of life and of human qualities is radically different from that of traditional religion, whether it's Southern Baptist or Islam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-biological-evolutionary-perception-of-life-and-of-human-qualities/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/we-should-preserve-every-scrap-of-biodiversity-as-priceless-while-we/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [In many environments, take away the ants and there would be partial collapses in many of the land ecosystems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/in-many-environments-take-away-the-ants-and-there-would-be-partial/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [If those committed to the quest fail, they will be forgiven. When lost, they will find another way. The moral imperative of humanism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/if-those-committed-to-the-quest-fail-they-will-be-forgiven-when-lost/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The extinctions ongoing worldwide promise to be at least as great as the mass extinction that occurred at the end of the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-extinctions-ongoing-worldwide-promise-to-be-at-least-as-great-as/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Most people are surprised when they hear my somber figures: we know of 2 million species of plants, animals and microorganisms, and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/most-people-are-surprised-when-they-hear-my-somber-figures-we-know-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Because the living environment is what really sustains us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/because-the-living-environment-is-what-really-sustains-us/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The variety of genes on the planet in viruses exceeds, or is likely to exceed, that in all of the rest of life combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-variety-of-genes-on-the-planet-in-viruses-exceeds-or-is-likely-to/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) [Explore all 253 E. O. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yes, the natural sciences are telling us a great deal about human origins, the origins of our species the origins of our minds; we're on our way to explaining a large part of it. I'll accept an answer provided only by such means as obtaining and exploring, analyzing and arguing over the evidence - not because of a scribe's myopic view of the subject written 500 years before the birth of Christ!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. O. 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