--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has only to contemplate the magnitude…" description: "\"One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede that the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. Yet here we are-a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-wald-9544_believe_one-has-only-to-contemplate-the-magnitud_1312714.png" --- # One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to… ![“One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede that the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. Yet here we are-as a result, I believe, of spontaneous generation.” quote by George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-wald-9544_believe_one-has-only-to-contemplate-the-magnitud_1312714.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-wald-9544_believe_one-has-only-to-contemplate-the-magnitud_1312714.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06c/george-wald-9544_believe_one-has-only-to-contemplate-the-magnitud_1312714.png) > “One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede that the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. Yet here we are-as a result, I believe, of spontaneous generation.” [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The complexity of life makes spontaneous creation implausible, yet we exist, suggesting a deeper process. **In simple terms:** Life’s complexity contradicts simple spontaneous creation. Key Takeaway Recognize deeper mechanisms behind life. Themes science philosophy biology Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - education - research - public talks Key Concepts spontaneous generation complexity origin of life Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms explain life’s origin? - How does this view affect our understanding of biology? A Different Perspective Spontaneous generation is historically disproven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Creation and evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-and-evolution/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [God and science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-and-science/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-organisms/) [Organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisms/) [Spontaneous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneous/) ## Related quotes > [I do not want to believe in God. Therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-do-not-want-to-believe-in-god-therefore-i-choose-to-believe-in-that/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [When it comes to the origin of life there are only two possibilities: creation or spontaneous generation. There is no third way. Spontaneous generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/when-it-comes-to-the-origin-of-life-there-are-only-two-possibilities/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [ \[Attributing the origin of life to spontaneous generation.\] However improbable we regard this event, it will almost certainly happen at least once… The time...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/attributing-the-origin-of-life-to-spontaneous-generation-however/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose: Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God… There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-are-only-two-possible-explanations-as-to-how-life-arose/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Most modern biologists, having reviewed with satisfaction the downfall of the spontaneous generation hypothesis, yet unwilling to accept the alternative belief in special creation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/most-modern-biologists-having-reviewed-with-satisfaction-the-downfall/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [My opinion - nay more, my conviction - is that, in the present state of science, as you rightly say, spontaneous generation is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/my-opinion-nay-more-my-conviction-is-that-in-the-present-state-of/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Never will the doctrine of spontaneous generation recover from the mortal blow struck by this simple experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/never-will-the-doctrine-of-spontaneous-generation-recover-from-the/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [It is a matter of fact; I approached without a preconceived idea, too ready to declare, if the experiment had imposed upon me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/it-is-a-matter-of-fact-i-approached-without-a-preconceived-idea-too/) [Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/) > [Mathematical discoveries, small or great are never born of spontaneous generation They always presuppose a soil seeded with preliminary knowledge and well prepared by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/mathematical-discoveries-small-or-great-are-never-born-of-spontaneous-2/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [Mathematical discoveries, small or great are never born of spontaneous generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-poincare/mathematical-discoveries-small-or-great-are-never-born-of-spontaneous/) [Henri Poincare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-poincare/) > [The idea of spontaneous generation of life in its present form is therefore highly improbable even to the scale of the billions of years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-prigogine/the-idea-of-spontaneous-generation-of-life-in-its-present-form-is/) [Ilya Prigogine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-prigogine/) > [Evolution is unproved and unprovable. We believe it only because the only alternative is special creation, and that is unthinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-keith/evolution-is-unproved-and-unprovable-we-believe-it-only-because-the/) [Arthur Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-keith/) > [We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewontin/we-take-the-side-of-science-in-spite-of-the-patent-absurdity-of-some/) [Richard Lewontin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewontin/) > [To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/to-suppose-that-the-eye-could-have-been-formed-by-natural-selection/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Scientific accuracy confirms the Bible is the Word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rogers/scientific-accuracy-confirms-the-bible-is-the-word-of-god/) [Adrian Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rogers/) ## More by George Wald > [Civilization will end within 15 or 30 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/civilization-will-end-within-15-or-30-years-unless-immediate-action/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [So-called defense now absorbs sixty per cent of the national budget, and about twelve per cent of the Gross National Product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/so-called-defense-now-absorbs-sixty-per-cent-of-the-national-budget/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I have lived much of my life among molecules. They are good company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-have-lived-much-of-my-life-among-molecules-they-are-good-company/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Evolution advances, not by a priori design, but by the selection of what works best out of whatever choices offer. We are the products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/evolution-advances-not-by-a-priori-design-but-by-the-selection-of/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Every creature alive on the earth today represents an unbroken line of life that stretches back to the first primitive organism to appear on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/every-creature-alive-on-the-earth-today-represents-an-unbroken-line/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I think if a physician wrote on a death certificate that old age was the cause of death, he'd be thrown out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-think-if-a-physician-wrote-on-a-death-certificate-that-old-age-was/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I am growing old, and my future, so to speak, is already behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-am-growing-old-and-my-future-so-to-speak-is-already-behind-me/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [A scientist should be the happiest of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/a-scientist-should-be-the-happiest-of-men/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I think all of you know there is no adequate defense against massive nuclear attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-think-all-of-you-know-there-is-no-adequate-defense-against-massive/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [We've committed many war crimes in Vietnam - but I'll tell you something interesting about that. We were committing war crimes in World War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/we-ve-committed-many-war-crimes-in-vietnam-but-i-ll-tell-you/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [Science goes from question to question; big questions, and little, tentative answers. The questions as they age grow ever broader, the answers are seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/science-goes-from-question-to-question-big-questions-and-little/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [There's life all over this universe, but the only life in the solar system is on earth, and in the whole universe we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-s-life-all-over-this-universe-but-the-only-life-in-the-solar/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I think I know what is bothering the students. I think that what we are up against is a generation that is by no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-think-i-know-what-is-bothering-the-students-i-think-that-what-we/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [A physicist is an atom's way of knowing about atoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/a-physicist-is-an-atom-s-way-of-knowing-about-atoms/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose: Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God… There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-are-only-two-possible-explanations-as-to-how-life-arose/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) [Explore all 72 George Wald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede that the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. 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