--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who deny the science or choose…" description: "\"Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.\" — John F. Kerry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png" --- # Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action… ![“Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.” quote by John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png) > “Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.” [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. Warning that denying science and making excuses leads to dangerous consequences. **In simple terms:** Science denial is reckless. Key Takeaway Act on evidence, not excuses. Themes environment responsibility science Mood urgent serious Type motivational activist When to use this quote - government policy - business decisions - personal lifestyle Key Concepts climate change policy risk management Questions to Reflect On - What excuse are you willing to drop? - How can you promote scientific truth? A Different Perspective Action may be hindered by economic interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-playing-1634776/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny/) [Deny Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny-science-1011326/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses/) [Excuses Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuses-action-1634775/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Playing with fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-with-fire/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Don't use your past as an excuse, excuse your excuses and take action now!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/don-t-use-your-past-as-an-excuse-excuse-your-excuses-and-take-action/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [“How can you attain satisfaction if you have more excuses than action?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/how-can-you-attain-satisfaction-if-you-have-more-excuses-than-action/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [The fossil fuel industry has taken control of, and powered up, architecture and methods originally built by the tobacco industry and others to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/the-fossil-fuel-industry-has-taken-control-of-and-powered-up/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [History will judge harshly my Republican colleagues who deny the science of climate change. Similarly, those Democrats who would use climate change as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/history-will-judge-harshly-my-republican-colleagues-who-deny-the/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [If this really is true, then greed really isn't good, after all. It really isn't the way to maximize the best possible outcome. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/if-this-really-is-true-then-greed-really-isn-t-good-after-all-it/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“And you pride keeps you from doing anything absurd,I suppose." Ranulf eyed Bronwyn suspiciously. Their banter was the equivalent of foreplay, except he seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/and-you-pride-keeps-you-from-doing-anything-absurd-i-suppose-ranulf/) [Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/) > [I know you taught me better,somehow I never learned,said I was playing with fire somehow I never burned,you tried to set me straight somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/i-know-you-taught-me-better-somehow-i-never-learned-said-i-was/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [“I was playing with fire right now and I didn’t really care if I got burned. - Oliver Bailey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bender/i-was-playing-with-fire-right-now-and-i-didn-t-really-care-if-i-got/) [Melissa Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bender/) > [Let's all wise up. Some of us aren't fighting the fire; we're playing with fire. Flirting with the devil. Stop it! Stop it now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/let-s-all-wise-up-some-of-us-aren-t-fighting-the-fire-we-re-playing/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“I’ll tell you what,” he bargains, amused. “There’s a dance every Yule at University. You go with Gareth, and I’ll ask Aislinn Greer.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-forest/i-ll-tell-you-what-he-bargains-amused-there-s-a-dance-every-yule-at/) [Laurie Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-forest/) > [Playing with fire doesn't necessarily get you burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/playing-with-fire-doesn-t-necessarily-get-you-burned/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [“I stepped close to him, placing a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat under his shirt. "I trust you," I said, rising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-stepped-close-to-him-placing-a-hand-on-his-chest-feeling-his-heart/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Playing with fire Kitten?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/playing-with-fire-kitten/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“Despite his care, Reid was still playing with fire, the kind that could without warning sheathe one’s whole life in irreversible conflagration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-russell/despite-his-care-reid-was-still-playing-with-fire-the-kind-that-could/) [Paul Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-russell/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. Kerry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-excuses-over-action-are-playing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-excuses-over-action-are-playing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d73/john-f-kerry-996_action_those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-exc_1754385.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who deny the science or choose excuses over action are playing with fire.” — John F. Kerry", "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": "John F. Kerry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those who deny the science or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-excuses-over-action-are-playing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/those-who-deny-the-science-or-choose-excuses-over-action-are-playing/#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 } } ] } ```