--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’ve often said that global climate…" description: "\"I’ve often said that global climate change is an issue where no one has the luxury of being “half-pregnant.” You either are or you aren’t. And so it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-ve-often-said-that-global-climate-chan_1331308.jpg" --- # I’ve often said that global climate change is an issue… ![“I’ve often said that global climate change is an issue where no one has the luxury of being “half-pregnant.” You either are or you aren’t. And so it is with climate change. You either understand and accept the science – or you don’t. Folks this isn’t a cafeteria where you can pick and choose and…” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-ve-often-said-that-global-climate-chan_1331308.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-ve-often-said-that-global-climate-chan_1331308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e4/john-f-kerry-996_accepting_i-ve-often-said-that-global-climate-chan_1331308.jpg) > “I’ve often said that global climate change is an issue where no one has the luxury of being “half-pregnant.” You either are or you aren’t. And so it is with climate change. You either understand and accept the science – or you don’t. Folks this isn’t a cafeteria where you can pick and choose and accept the science that tells us what is happening, but then reject the science that warns us what will happen.” [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Climate change demands full acceptance or denial; partial acknowledgment is impossible. **In simple terms:** Either accept climate science fully or reject it. Key Takeaway Commit to science-based action. Themes environment science policy urgency choice Mood urgent determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government legislation - community activism - business planning - education curricula Key Concepts Climate science public policy risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How can we bridge scientific consensus and public skepticism? - What policies best address climate urgency? A Different Perspective Complex issues may have nuanced positions; binary framing oversimplifies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Pregnant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pregnant/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [I really like being pregnant. Not that there aren't things I don't love, but when I think about what my body is doing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/i-really-like-being-pregnant-not-that-there-aren-t-things-i-don-t/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you get a woman pregnant and aren't there for her, you're a poor excuse for a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-get-a-woman-pregnant-and-aren-t-there-for-her-you-re-a-poor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only when creative people take ownership of cosmic discovery will society accept science as the cultural activity that it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/only-when-creative-people-take-ownership-of-cosmic-discovery-will/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I don't care about age. Nor do I care about those who do not accept the science. I don't have as much experience, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-don-t-care-about-age-nor-do-i-care-about-those-who-do-not-accept/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [It is baffling, I must say, that in our modern world we have such blind trust in science and technology that we all accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/it-is-baffling-i-must-say-that-in-our-modern-world-we-have-such-blind/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [The politics is far harder than the science. And even if we accept the science we have a big issue of how to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/the-politics-is-far-harder-than-the-science-and-even-if-we-accept-the/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [We must accept what science tells us, that man was born from the earth. But, more logical than the scientists who lecture us, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/we-must-accept-what-science-tells-us-that-man-was-born-from-the-earth/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [Global warming may be a 'crisis,' even 'the most pressing environmental problem of our time.' ... Indeed, it may ultimately affect nearly everyone on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/global-warming-may-be-a-crisis-even-the-most-pressing-environmental/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [It's very clear that global climate change is occurring on earth, but it's also been very clear that that has always happened on earth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hammel/it-s-very-clear-that-global-climate-change-is-occurring-on-earth-but/) [Heidi Hammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-hammel/) > [On the science of global climate change, I'm an agnostic. I've seen Al Gore's movie, and I've read reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bryce/on-the-science-of-global-climate-change-i-m-an-agnostic-i-ve-seen-al/) [Robert Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bryce/) > [ ...the global surface albedo \[surface whiteness\] and greenhouse gas changes account for practically the entire global climate change. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-global-surface-albedo-surface-whiteness-and-greenhouse-gas/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Every generation faces a challenge. In the 1930s, it was the creation of Social Security. In the 1960s, it was putting a man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-claussen/every-generation-faces-a-challenge-in-the-1930s-it-was-the-creation/) [Eileen Claussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-claussen/) > [We're showing that there's no excuse for other nations to come together, both developed and developing, to achieve a strong global climate agreement next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-showing-that-there-s-no-excuse-for-other-nations-to-come/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What degree of proof about the human catastrophe from global climate change do we need, before we are motivated to act to prevent it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-chivian/what-degree-of-proof-about-the-human-catastrophe-from-global-climate/) Eric Chivian > [I do not underestimate the difficulty of the challenge that global climate change presents to us. It will take a significant effort and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-pena/i-do-not-underestimate-the-difficulty-of-the-challenge-that-global/) [Federico Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-pena/) ## More by John F. Kerry > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ People talk about \[Bashar\] Assad running Syria. He doesn't control his own country. He's down to about 20, 25 percent of the country. What… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/people-talk-about-bashar-assad-running-syria-he-doesn-t-control-his/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-m-an-internationalist-i-d-like-to-see-our-troops-dispersed-through/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [ You cannot bring peace in Syria as long as \[Bashar\] Assad is, in fact, there. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/you-cannot-bring-peace-in-syria-as-long-as-bashar-assad-is-in-fact/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There's an agreement that Syria should be a unified country, united; that it needs to be secular; that ISIL needs to be taken on;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-s-an-agreement-that-syria-should-be-a-unified-country-united/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [It's very hard to get other countries to give up their weapons when you're busy developing a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/it-s-very-hard-to-get-other-countries-to-give-up-their-weapons-when/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [There is no bigger judgment for a president of the United States than how you take a nation to war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-is-no-bigger-judgment-for-a-president-of-the-united-states-than/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I have confidence in my campaign. I have assembled a great team that is going to beat George W. Bush, and any rumors to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-have-confidence-in-my-campaign-i-have-assembled-a-great-team-that/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [In a few years, you should be able to plug your American-made plug-in hybrid into the outlet in your garage, so that you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/in-a-few-years-you-should-be-able-to-plug-your-american-made-plug-in/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Unlike Washington, which is stuck in ideological gridlock, Americans feel the impact of climate change in their own hometowns and they know something must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/unlike-washington-which-is-stuck-in-ideological-gridlock-americans/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [America must always be the world's paramount military power, but we can magnify our power through alliances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/america-must-always-be-the-world-s-paramount-military-power-but-we/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We should not allow a tiny minority of shoddy scientists and science and extreme ideologues to compete with scientific facts,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/we-should-not-allow-a-tiny-minority-of-shoddy-scientists-and-science/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Jesus did not help just the sick who could afford to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/jesus-did-not-help-just-the-sick-who-could-afford-to-pay-for-it/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [War should be not a war of choice; it should be a war of necessity. And it should be a last resort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/war-should-be-not-a-war-of-choice-it-should-be-a-war-of-necessity-and/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) [Explore all 312 John F. Kerry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I’ve often said that global climate change is an issue where no one has the luxury of being “half-pregnant.” You either are or you aren’t. And so it is with climate change. You either understand and accept the science – or you don’t. Folks this isn’t a cafeteria where you can pick and choose and accept the science that tells us what is happening, but then reject the science that warns us what will happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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