--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As for AIDS, it's a plague. We are human…" description: "\"As for AIDS, it's a plague. We are human, we get plagues. They come along every so often, kill off two thirds of the population; in the next generation..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/larry-niven-4263_aids_as-for-aids-it-s-a-plague-we-are-human-w_1374069.png" --- # As for AIDS, it's a plague. We are human, we get plagues… ![“As for AIDS, it's a plague. We are human, we get plagues. They come along every so often, kill off two thirds of the population; in the next generation it's a quarter; after that it's a childhood disease.” quote by Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/larry-niven-4263_aids_as-for-aids-it-s-a-plague-we-are-human-w_1374069.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/larry-niven-4263_aids_as-for-aids-it-s-a-plague-we-are-human-w_1374069.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/larry-niven-4263_aids_as-for-aids-it-s-a-plague-we-are-human-w_1374069.png) > “As for AIDS, it's a plague. We are human, we get plagues. They come along every so often, kill off two thirds of the population; in the next generation it's a quarter; after that it's a childhood disease.” [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compares AIDS to historical plagues, noting its devastating impact and shifting demographics over generations. **In simple terms:** AIDS is a deadly, evolving disease. Key Takeaway Recognize and address health crises. Themes disease history public health Mood cautionary analytical Type scientific historical When to use this quote - health policy - education campaigns - research funding Key Concepts epidemiology social impact mortality Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better respond to pandemics? - What lessons from past plagues apply today? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Plague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plague/) [Plagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plagues/) ## Related quotes > [AIDS is a plague - numerically, statistically and by any definition known to modern public health - though no one in authority has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/aids-is-a-plague-numerically-statistically-and-by-any-definition/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [Of all the plagues with which the world is curst, Of every ill, a woman is the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-granville-1st-baron-lansdowne/of-all-the-plagues-with-which-the-world-is-curst-of-every-ill-a-woman/) [George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-granville-1st-baron-lansdowne/) > [“Before the first settlers arrived on American shores, a massive plague, or series of plagues, had essentially annihilated the indigenous peoples. They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-currie/before-the-first-settlers-arrived-on-american-shores-a-massive-plague/) Evan Currie > [Published in 1947, 'The Plague' has often been read as an allegory, a book that is really about the occupation of France, say, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/published-in-1947-the-plague-has-often-been-read-as-an-allegory-a/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [All the contagion of the south light on you, You shames of Rome! you herd of--boils and plagues Plaster you o'er; that you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/all-the-contagion-of-the-south-light-on-you-you-shames-of-rome-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Even in those cities which seem to enjoy the blessings of peace, and where the arts florish, the inhabitants are devoured by envy, cares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/even-in-those-cities-which-seem-to-enjoy-the-blessings-of-peace-and/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [What plagues people is not those who don't love them, but those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gilbert/what-plagues-people-is-not-those-who-don-t-love-them-but-those-who-do/) [Michael Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gilbert/) > [“Plagues were nothing new to Europe…. They were recorded as far back as 1347, and continued on until 1750. In 1649, a terrible epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba-2/plagues-were-nothing-new-to-europe-they-were-recorded-as-far-back-as/) Captain Hank Bracker, "The Exciting Story of Cuba > [Fears of creating new kinds of plagues or of altering human evolution or of irreversibly altering the environment were only some of the concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-berg/fears-of-creating-new-kinds-of-plagues-or-of-altering-human-evolution/) [Paul Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-berg/) > [And of all plagues with which mankind are curst, Ecclesiastic tyranny's the worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/and-of-all-plagues-with-which-mankind-are-curst-ecclesiastic-tyranny/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [I have lived to see the greatest plague on earth -- the condemning of God's word, a fearful thing, surpassing all other plagues in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-have-lived-to-see-the-greatest-plague-on-earth-the-condemning-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are plagues, and there are victims, and it's the duty of good men not to join forces with the plagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-are-plagues-and-there-are-victims-and-it-s-the-duty-of-good-men/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Every conflict plagues the peace that follows it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-l-carter/every-conflict-plagues-the-peace-that-follows-it/) [Stephen L. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [It seems to me the worst of all the plagues is the slug, the snail without a shell. He is beyond description repulsive, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-thaxter/it-seems-to-me-the-worst-of-all-the-plagues-is-the-slug-the-snail/) [Celia Thaxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-thaxter/) > [Close your eyes. Pray for plagues. Oh Lord cleanse this earth And bring upon our doomsday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/close-your-eyes-pray-for-plagues-oh-lord-cleanse-this-earth-and-bring/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) ## More by Larry Niven > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [In challenging a kzin, a simple scream of rage is sufficient. You scream and you leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/in-challenging-a-kzin-a-simple-scream-of-rage-is-sufficient-you/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“There is no cause so good or noble that it will not attract fuggheads; and the fuggheads will get all the press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/there-is-no-cause-so-good-or-noble-that-it-will-not-attract-fuggheads/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Music had played suddenly through the cabin, complex and lovely, rich in minor tones, like the sad call of a sex-maddened computer. Nessus whistled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/music-had-played-suddenly-through-the-cabin-complex-and-lovely-rich/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“This place is a playground for a questing mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/this-place-is-a-playground-for-a-questing-mind/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“have precious little free will," he was saying. "We're too intelligent not to see the right answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/have-precious-little-free-will-he-was-saying-we-re-too-intelligent/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“1a) Never throw shit at an armed man. 1b) Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/1a-never-throw-shit-at-an-armed-man-1b-never-stand-next-to-someone/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [We learn only to ask more questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/we-learn-only-to-ask-more-questions/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Everything starts as somebody's dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/everything-starts-as-somebody-s-dream/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“I asked him, "Do you know the difference between nude and naked?" He shook his head. "Nude is artistic. Naked is defenseless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/i-asked-him-do-you-know-the-difference-between-nude-and-naked-he/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Intelligence is just a tool to be used toward a goal, and goals are not always chosen intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/intelligence-is-just-a-tool-to-be-used-toward-a-goal-and-goals-are/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [And every friend I've got has been writing Mars stories. It was pretty clear I'd never catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/and-every-friend-i-ve-got-has-been-writing-mars-stories-it-was-pretty/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [For each human being there is an optimum ratio between change and stasis. Too little change, he grows bored. Too little stability, he panics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/for-each-human-being-there-is-an-optimum-ratio-between-change-and/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Anything beats an expensive stack of paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/anything-beats-an-expensive-stack-of-paper/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Humans," said the puppeteer, "should not be allowed to run loose. You will surely harm yourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/humans-said-the-puppeteer-should-not-be-allowed-to-run-loose-you-will/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) [Explore all 112 Larry Niven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## More Aids quotes > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I donated blood today. That's what I call getting an AIDS test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-donated-blood-today-that-s-what-i-call-getting-an-aids-test/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Slavery, if it can be legalized at all, can be legalized only by positive legislation. Natural law gives it no aid. Custom imparts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/slavery-if-it-can-be-legalized-at-all-can-be-legalized-only-by/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The European talks of progress because by the aid of a few scientific discoveries he has established a society which has mistaken comfort for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-european-talks-of-progress-because-by-the-aid-of-a-few-scientific/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Women's Aid is a fantastic charity which has my full support. I am proud to call myself a Real Man, a man who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-fox/women-s-aid-is-a-fantastic-charity-which-has-my-full-support-i-am/) Neil Fox > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [At the time when this famous historical battle was fought in Kosovo, the people were looking at the stars, expecting aid from them. 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There is the fascination of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/it-is-a-great-profession-there-is-the-fascination-of-watching-a/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) Browse all 1,983 Aids quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As for AIDS, it's a plague. We are human, we get plagues. 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