--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a morbid observation, but if every…" description: "\"It's a morbid observation, but if every one on earth just stopped breathing for an hour, the greenhouse effect would no longer be a problem.\" — Jerry A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg" --- # It's a morbid observation, but if every one on earth just… ![“It's a morbid observation, but if every one on earth just stopped breathing for an hour, the greenhouse effect would no longer be a problem.” quote by Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg) > “It's a morbid observation, but if every one on earth just stopped breathing for an hour, the greenhouse effect would no longer be a problem.” [Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He uses a hyperbolic scenario to illustrate the magnitude of human impact on climate. **In simple terms:** If everyone stopped breathing for an hour, the greenhouse effect would cease. Key Takeaway Human activity drives climate change. Themes environment climate human impact Mood serious thought‑provoking Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - policy debates - educational talks Key Concepts carbon emissions global warming Questions to Reflect On - What practical steps can reduce emissions? - How can we communicate climate urgency effectively? A Different Perspective The analogy ignores other greenhouse gases and long‑term effects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Breathing Hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing-hour-6026948/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Conservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservation/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Ecology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecology/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Greenhouse Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greenhouse-effect-490665/) [Greenhouses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greenhouses/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Morbid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morbid/) [Morbid Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morbid-observation-6026949/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Stopped Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped-breathing-1931118/) ## Related quotes > [The basic scientific conclusions on climate change are very robust and for good reason. The greenhouse effect is simple science: greenhouse gases trap heat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-stern/the-basic-scientific-conclusions-on-climate-change-are-very-robust/) [Nicholas Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-stern/) > [The greenhouse effect of carbon-dioxide emissions does produce gentle warming if it is not counteracted by unpredictable natural phenomena, but it cannot be measured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/the-greenhouse-effect-of-carbon-dioxide-emissions-does-produce-gentle/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [The general public doesn't know and probably doesn't care about punctuated equilibria nor indeed should they, or the greenhouse effect on some other planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewontin/the-general-public-doesn-t-know-and-probably-doesn-t-care-about/) [Richard Lewontin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewontin/) > [... The reality is that atmospheric CO2 has a minimal impact on greenhouse gases and world temperature. Water vapor is responsible for 95 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cunningham/the-reality-is-that-atmospheric-co2-has-a-minimal-impact-on/) [Walter Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cunningham/) > [There is a natural greenhouse effect that contributes to warming. Greenhouse gases trap heat and thus warm the Earth because they prevent a significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-is-a-natural-greenhouse-effect-that-contributes-to-warming-2/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Isn't it sad that you can tell people that the ozone layer is being depleted, the forests are being cut down, the deserts are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/isn-t-it-sad-that-you-can-tell-people-that-the-ozone-layer-is-being/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The unthinkable is that we're distorting this atmospheric balance. We're shifting the chemical balance so that we have more poisons in the atmosphere -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-oppenheimer/the-unthinkable-is-that-we-re-distorting-this-atmospheric-balance-we/) [Michael Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-oppenheimer/) > [... the consensus of the scientific community has shifted from skepticism to near-unanimous acceptance of the evidence of an artificial greenhouse effect. Second, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-easterbrook/the-consensus-of-the-scientific-community-has-shifted-from-skepticism/) [Gregg Easterbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-easterbrook/) > [There is a natural greenhouse effect that contributes to warming. Greenhouse gases trap heat and thus warm the Earth because they prevent a significant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-is-a-natural-greenhouse-effect-that-contributes-to-warming/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Al Gore likes to say that mankind puts 70 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day. What he probably doesn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-spencer/al-gore-likes-to-say-that-mankind-puts-70-million-tons-of-carbon/) [Roy Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-spencer/) > [I am not a climatologist, but I don't think any of the other witnesses are either. I do work in the related field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-happer/i-am-not-a-climatologist-but-i-don-t-think-any-of-the-other-witnesses/) [William Happer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-happer/) > [The gradual depletion of the ozone layer and the related "greenhouse effect" has now reached crisis proportions as a consequence of industrial growth, massive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-gradual-depletion-of-the-ozone-layer-and-the-related-greenhouse/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [ Because nitrous oxide \[released by nitrate-fertilised soil\] is 296 times stronger than COâ‚‚ at global warming and methane \[cow farts\] is about 26 times… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-hartmann/because-nitrous-oxide-released-by-nitrate-fertilised-soil-is-296/) [Thom Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-hartmann/) > [If Earth ever suffers a runaway greenhouse effect (like what has happened on Venus), then our atmosphere would trap excess amounts of solar energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-earth-ever-suffers-a-runaway-greenhouse-effect-like-what-has/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The planetary machinery tends to be jumpy, this is to respond disproportionately to disruptions that come with the manmade greenhouse effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-joachim-schellnhuber/the-planetary-machinery-tends-to-be-jumpy-this-is-to-respond/) [Hans Joachim Schellnhuber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-joachim-schellnhuber/) ## More by Jerry Adler > [Just as Americans have discovered the hidden energy costs in a multitude of products-in refrigerating a steak, for example, on its way to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/just-as-americans-have-discovered-the-hidden-energy-costs-in-a/) [Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) > [Norman Rockwell, the Brueghel of the 20th century bourgeoisie, the Holbein of Jell-O ads and magazine covers; by common assent, the most American artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/norman-rockwell-the-brueghel-of-the-20th-century-bourgeoisie-the/) [Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) > [If beer got any lighter you could raise goldfish in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/if-beer-got-any-lighter-you-could-raise-goldfish-in-it/) [Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) [Explore all 4 Jerry Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a morbid observation, but if every one on earth just stopped breathing for an hour, the greenhouse effect would no longer be a problem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Adler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-one-on-earth-just-stopped/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-one-on-earth-just-stopped/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/jerry-adler-67546_breathing_it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-o_3216058.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a morbid observation, but if every one on earth just stopped breathing for an hour, the greenhouse…” — Jerry Adler", "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": "Jerry Adler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's a morbid observation, but if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-one-on-earth-just-stopped/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/it-s-a-morbid-observation-but-if-every-one-on-earth-just-stopped/#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 } } ] } ```