--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an analogy one can imagine an…" description: "\"As an analogy one can imagine an intelligent amoeba with a good memory. As time progresses the amoeba is constantly splitting, each time the resulting ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg" --- # As an analogy one can imagine an intelligent amoeba with a… ![“As an analogy one can imagine an intelligent amoeba with a good memory. As time progresses the amoeba is constantly splitting, each time the resulting amoebas having the same memories as the parent. Our amoeba hence does not have a life line, but a life tree.” quote by Hugh Everett III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg) > “As an analogy one can imagine an intelligent amoeba with a good memory. As time progresses the amoeba is constantly splitting, each time the resulting amoebas having the same memories as the parent. Our amoeba hence does not have a life line, but a life tree.” Hugh Everett III ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The intelligent amoeba analogy illustrates a branching continuity of memory, suggesting identity is a distributed tree rather than a single line. **In simple terms:** Identity is a memory tree, not a line. Key Takeaway Consider identity as a network of shared memories. Themes philosophy science identity Mood thought‑provoking conceptual Type philosophical metaphorical When to use this quote - family histories - AI memory storage - cultural heritage preservation Key Concepts quantum theory memory continuity Questions to Reflect On - How does this view change your sense of self? - Can memories be truly shared across individuals? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex biological and quantum concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amoeba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amoeba/) [Analogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Good memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-memories/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-line/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [“The one who did not understood that his time’s root supports his life tree was born in vain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-one-who-did-not-understood-that-his-time-s-root-supports-his-life/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [What we want is another sample of life, which is not on our tree of life at all. All life that we've studied so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/what-we-want-is-another-sample-of-life-which-is-not-on-our-tree-of/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [A tree you pass by every day is just a tree. If you are to closely examine what a tree has and the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/a-tree-you-pass-by-every-day-is-just-a-tree-if-you-are-to-closely/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [I would like to believe when I die that I have given myself away like a tree that sows seed every spring and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-would-like-to-believe-when-i-die-that-i-have-given-myself-away-like/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Life is a tree with different branches of experience, different leaves of stories, different flowers of feelings, different roots of teachings of gaining and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-tree-with-different-branches-of-experience-different-leaves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once he raised his arm to show his friends the back of his hand, where the veins were laid out in the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-olesha/once-he-raised-his-arm-to-show-his-friends-the-back-of-his-hand-where/) Yuri Olesha > [“Watch the beauty of your life tree old leaves falling and allowing new ones to sprout !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-lima/watch-the-beauty-of-your-life-tree-old-leaves-falling-and-allowing/) Joy Lima > [Never feel sad on losing anything in your life because whenever a tree loses its leaf another is ready to take its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-feel-sad-on-losing-anything-in-your-life-because-whenever-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life is a tree and I can stay in one place and spread out in all directions, and I can do more learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-e-turner/my-life-is-a-tree-and-i-can-stay-in-one-place-and-spread-out-in-all/) [Nancy E. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-e-turner/) > [Freedom of life does not mean disorder of life, does not mean chaos, and just everyone doing anything he wants. That is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/freedom-of-life-does-not-mean-disorder-of-life-does-not-mean-chaos/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The one who did not understood that his times root supports his life tree was born in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-one-who-did-not-understood-that-his-times-root-supports-his-life/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [The difference between the amoeba and Einstein is that, although both make use of the method of trial and error elimination, the amoeba dislikes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-difference-between-the-amoeba-and-einstein-is-that-although-both/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [An amoeba is a formless thing which takes many shapes. It moves by thrusting out an arm, and flowing into the arm. It multiplies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/an-amoeba-is-a-formless-thing-which-takes-many-shapes-it-moves-by/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > ["Ask, and it is given" means that whether you are a full blossoming genius human, or whether you are the one-celled amoeba in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/ask-and-it-is-given-means-that-whether-you-are-a-full-blossoming/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Amoeba ass is so hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/amoeba-ass-is-so-hot/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) ## More by Hugh Everett III > [Someone once noted that Hugh Everett should have been declared a "national resource," and given all the time and resources he needed to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/someone-once-noted-that-hugh-everett-should-have-been-declared-a/) Hugh Everett III > [ \[The Many-worlds interpretation is the\] only completely coherent approach to explaining both the contents of quantum mechanics and the appearance of the world. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/the-many-worlds-interpretation-is-the-only-completely-coherent/) Hugh Everett III > [If you want to get an interesting perspective do not think of Hugh as a traditional 20th century physicist but more of a Renaissance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/if-you-want-to-get-an-interesting-perspective-do-not-think-of-hugh-as/) Hugh Everett III Explore all 4 Hugh Everett III quotes ## More Amoeba quotes > [“Amoeba ass is so hot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/amoeba-ass-is-so-hot/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > ["Ask, and it is given" means that whether you are a full blossoming genius human, or whether you are the one-celled amoeba in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/ask-and-it-is-given-means-that-whether-you-are-a-full-blossoming/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [The difference between the amoeba and Einstein is that, although both make use of the method of trial and error elimination, the amoeba dislikes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/the-difference-between-the-amoeba-and-einstein-is-that-although-both/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [An amoeba is a formless thing which takes many shapes. It moves by thrusting out an arm, and flowing into the arm. It multiplies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-laird/an-amoeba-is-a-formless-thing-which-takes-many-shapes-it-moves-by/) [Charlton Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-laird/) > [The Amoeba?" she asked Aiden. "The gang," he said, tossing his hand to indicate all around. "My people. A large amorphous mass that keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-curtis-klause/the-amoeba-she-asked-aiden-the-gang-he-said-tossing-his-hand-to/) [Annette Curtis Klause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-curtis-klause/) > [A process which led from the amoeba to man appeared to the philosophers to be obviously a progress though whether the amoeba would agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/a-process-which-led-from-the-amoeba-to-man-appeared-to-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Pope John XXIII was an amoeba of goodness in a sea of waste, mistakenly believing that the Holy See could or would really change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/pope-john-xxiii-was-an-amoeba-of-goodness-in-a-sea-of-waste/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [Life began on this planet when the first amoeba split. Mankind will still be seeking God, not accepting that God is a spirit; can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/life-began-on-this-planet-when-the-first-amoeba-split-mankind-will/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [We can choose, you know, we ain't no amoeba.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/we-can-choose-you-know-we-ain-t-no-amoeba/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [Man in his madness doesn't realize that God has made him from amoeba to this stage for some purpose. There is a big purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/man-in-his-madness-doesn-t-realize-that-god-has-made-him-from-amoeba/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Not all living creatures die. An amoeba, for example, need never die; it need not even, like certain generals, fade away. It just divides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/not-all-living-creatures-die-an-amoeba-for-example-need-never-die-it/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [I'm absolutely an amoeba. It's my survival value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-heflin/i-m-absolutely-an-amoeba-it-s-my-survival-value/) [Van Heflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-heflin/) > [You know the theory of cell irritability?. If you take an amoeba cell and poke it a thousand times, it will change and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/you-know-the-theory-of-cell-irritability-if-you-take-an-amoeba-cell/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [Amoeba has her picture in the book, Proud Protozoon!-Yet beware of pride, All she can do is fatten and divide; She cannot even read,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/amoeba-has-her-picture-in-the-book-proud-protozoon-yet-beware-of/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [One day while studying a Yeats poem I decided to write poetry the rest of my life. I recognized that a single short poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/one-day-while-studying-a-yeats-poem-i-decided-to-write-poetry-the/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) [Browse all 17 Amoeba quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amoeba/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an analogy one can imagine an intelligent amoeba with a good memory. As time progresses the amoeba is constantly splitting, each time the resulting amoebas having the same memories as the parent. Our amoeba hence does not have a life line, but a life tree.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Everett III" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelligent-amoeba-with-a-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amoeba" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelligent-amoeba-with-a-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6da/hugh-everett-iii-67678_amoeba_as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelli_2478838.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As an analogy one can imagine an intelligent amoeba with a good memory. As time progresses the amoeba is…” — Hugh Everett III", "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": "Hugh Everett III", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-everett-iii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As an analogy one can imagine...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelligent-amoeba-with-a-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-everett-iii/as-an-analogy-one-can-imagine-an-intelligent-amoeba-with-a-good/#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 } } ] } ```