--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consider the difference in size between…" description: "\"“Consider the difference in size between some of the very tiniest and the very largest creatures on Earth. A small bacterium weights as little as 0.000..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/laurie-garrett-33616_rule-the-world_consider-the-difference-in-size-between_906756.jpg" --- # Consider the difference in size between some of the very… ![“Consider the difference in size between some of the very tiniest and the very largest creatures on Earth. A small bacterium weights as little as 0.00000000001 gram. A blue whale weighs about 100,000,000 grams. Yet a bacterium can kill a whale … . Such is the adaptability and versatility of…” quote by Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/laurie-garrett-33616_rule-the-world_consider-the-difference-in-size-between_906756.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/laurie-garrett-33616_rule-the-world_consider-the-difference-in-size-between_906756.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e1/laurie-garrett-33616_rule-the-world_consider-the-difference-in-size-between_906756.jpg) > ““Consider the difference in size between some of the very tiniest and the very largest creatures on Earth. A small bacterium weights as little as 0.00000000001 gram. A blue whale weighs about 100,000,000 grams. Yet a bacterium can kill a whale … . Such is the adaptability and versatility of microorganisms as compared with humans and other so-called “higher” organisms, that they will doubtless continue to colonise and alter the face of the Earth long after we and the rest of our cohabitants have left the stage forever. Microbes, not macrobes, rule the world. —Bernard Dixon, 1994”” [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Microorganisms vastly outsize humans in adaptability, dominating Earth’s ecosystems and persisting beyond humanity’s existence. **In simple terms:** Microbes dominate Earth and outlast humans. Key Takeaway Respect microbial power in environmental planning. Themes ecology science humility survival scale Mood cautionary thought‑provoking scientific Type environmental scientific When to use this quote - public health - environmental policy - education - research - sustainability Key Concepts biological environmental philosophical Questions to Reflect On - How can we integrate microbial awareness into policy? - What responsibilities arise from microbial dominance? A Different Perspective Human focus on macro‑organisms can ignore microbial influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bacteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) [Rule the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-the-world/) ## Related quotes > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [“But on the question of whether the robots will eventually take over, he { Rodney A. Brooks } says that this will probably not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/but-on-the-question-of-whether-the-robots-will-eventually-take-over/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [There are more ideas on earth than intellectuals imagine. And these ideas are more active, stronger, more resistant, more passionate than politicians think. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/there-are-more-ideas-on-earth-than-intellectuals-imagine-and-these/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“Many peoples practiced agriculture, but they were never obsessed by the delusion that what they were doing was \*right\*, that everyone in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/many-peoples-practiced-agriculture-but-they-were-never-obsessed-by/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [The English are such a frightened, nervous, insecure group of people - they no longer rule the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-gilliam/the-english-are-such-a-frightened-nervous-insecure-group-of-people/) [Terry Gilliam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-gilliam/) > [Man's destiny was to conquer and rule the world, and this is what he's done.. almost. He hasn't quite made it, and it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/man-s-destiny-was-to-conquer-and-rule-the-world-and-this-is-what-he-s/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) > [“We live in a thinker's world, thinkers rule the world; If you are not a thinker, you end up as a slave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyedepo/we-live-in-a-thinker-s-world-thinkers-rule-the-world-if-you-are-not-a/) [David Oyedepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyedepo/) > [We have shown that Islam can rule the world perfectly for 14 centuries, and during this time of Muslim power we did not borrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-bakar-bashir/we-have-shown-that-islam-can-rule-the-world-perfectly-for-14/) [Abu Bakar Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-bakar-bashir/) > [A band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/a-band-of-thieves-in-ripped-up-jeans-got-to-rule-the-world/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I'm a novelist. Fortunately I don't have to rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-m-a-novelist-fortunately-i-don-t-have-to-rule-the-world/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [In another life, I would be your girl. Capable of making promises. We would rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/in-another-life-i-would-be-your-girl-capable-of-making-promises-we/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I used to rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coldplay/i-used-to-rule-the-world/) [Coldplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coldplay/) > [“An ideological movement is a collection of people many of whom could hardly bake a cake, fix a car, sustain a friendship or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-minogue/an-ideological-movement-is-a-collection-of-people-many-of-whom-could/) [Kenneth Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-minogue/) > [“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/blessings-on-the-poor-in-spirit-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-yours-matt-5/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) ## More by Laurie Garrett > [Ebola haunted Zaire because of corruption and political repression. The virus had no secret powers, nor was it unusually contagious. For centuries Ebola had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/ebola-haunted-zaire-because-of-corruption-and-political-repression/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [There is no governing structure for a pandemic, and little more than vague political pressure to ensure limited access to life-sparing tools and medicines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/there-is-no-governing-structure-for-a-pandemic-and-little-more-than/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [What public health really is is a trust. That's why I used the term 'Betrayal of Trust' as the title of my book. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/what-public-health-really-is-is-a-trust-that-s-why-i-used-the-term/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [Without equity, pandemic battles will fail. Viruses will simply recirculate, and perhaps undergo mutations or changes that render vaccines useless, passing through the unprotected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/without-equity-pandemic-battles-will-fail-viruses-will-simply/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [ \[W\]hat suffers in the atmosphere of immediacy is analysis. What suffers in this search for speed is depth. The media in the wealthy world… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/w-hat-suffers-in-the-atmosphere-of-immediacy-is-analysis-what-suffers/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [All across America news organizations have been devoured by massive corporations, and allegiance to stockholders, the drive for higher share prices, and push for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/all-across-america-news-organizations-have-been-devoured-by-massive/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [Let's pretend there's a pandemic. Let's everybody run around and play your role. Main result is that there is tremendous confusion. ... Nobody knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/let-s-pretend-there-s-a-pandemic-let-s-everybody-run-around-and-play/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [It would be easy to descend into despair, not only about the state of journalism, but the future of American democracy. But giving up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/it-would-be-easy-to-descend-into-despair-not-only-about-the-state-of/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [All too many journalists seem to mistake scandal mongering for tenacious investigation, and far too many aspire to make themselves the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/all-too-many-journalists-seem-to-mistake-scandal-mongering-for/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [At no time in history have we succeeded in making, in a timely fashion, a specific vaccine for more than 260 million people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/at-no-time-in-history-have-we-succeeded-in-making-in-a-timely-fashion/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > ['Contagion' should serve as a wake-up call not only about the germs, but perhaps more importantly about the frailty of governance, nationally and worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/contagion-should-serve-as-a-wake-up-call-not-only-about-the-germs-but/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [In all, 86 per cent of the increased life expectancy was due to decreases in infectious diseases. And the bulk of the decline in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/in-all-86-per-cent-of-the-increased-life-expectancy-was-due-to/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) > [Most Americans think that public health is services for poor people, and since most Americans hate poor people and want all poor people's services…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-garrett/most-americans-think-that-public-health-is-services-for-poor-people/) [Laurie Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) [Explore all 14 Laurie Garrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-garrett/) ## More Bacteria quotes > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [...The large majority of those infectious microbes that cause us so much illness and pain are ANAEROBIC...a big word that means they live and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccabe/the-large-majority-of-those-infectious-microbes-that-cause-us-so-much/) [Ed McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccabe/) > [You can't just boss bacteria around like that," said the younger Mrs. Hempstock. "They don't like it." "Stuff and silliness," said the old lady.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-t-just-boss-bacteria-around-like-that-said-the-younger-mrs/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are more microbes per person than the entire population of the world. Imagine that. Per person. This means that if the time scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/there-are-more-microbes-per-person-than-the-entire-population-of-the/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [“Drinking lots of alcohol makes the gut leakier, allowing microbes to more readily influence the brain. Could that help to explain why alcoholics often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-yong/drinking-lots-of-alcohol-makes-the-gut-leakier-allowing-microbes-to/) [Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) > [“According to pioneering microbiologist Lynn Margulis, "fully 10 percent of our own dry body weight consists of bacteria, some of which, although they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-bjornerud/according-to-pioneering-microbiologist-lynn-margulis-fully-10-percent/) Marcia Bjornerud > [Plants with leaves no more efficient than today's solar cells could out-compete real plants, crowding the biosphere with an inedible foliage. Tough omnivorous bacteria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-eric-drexler/plants-with-leaves-no-more-efficient-than-today-s-solar-cells-could/) [K. Eric Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-eric-drexler/) > [Nineteen hundred and three will bring great advances in surgery, in the study of bacteria, in the knowledge of the cause and prevention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/nineteen-hundred-and-three-will-bring-great-advances-in-surgery-in/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Most people are surprised when they hear my somber figures: we know of 2 million species of plants, animals and microorganisms, and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/most-people-are-surprised-when-they-hear-my-somber-figures-we-know-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Harmful bacteria, viruses, calcium-forming micro-organisms, and candida are part of our world. Unfortunately, so are toxic chemicals, including everything from pesticides to car pollution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/harmful-bacteria-viruses-calcium-forming-micro-organisms-and-candida/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [With one linear centimeter of your lower colon there lives and works more bacteria (about 100 billion) that all humans who have ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/with-one-linear-centimeter-of-your-lower-colon-there-lives-and-works/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Eighty-five percent of recorded species live in the terrestrial realm, and the majority of these, some 850,000, are arthropods (that is, insects, spiders, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-leakey/eighty-five-percent-of-recorded-species-live-in-the-terrestrial-realm/) Richard E. Leakey > [As far as I am concerned, LGBT can only stand for leprosy, gonorrhea, bacteria, and tuberculosis, all of which are detrimental to human existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-jammeh/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-lgbt-can-only-stand-for-leprosy-gonorrhea/) [Yahya Jammeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-jammeh/) > [There are about 250,000 different species of fossil plants and animals known . . In spite of this large quantity of information, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-raup/there-are-about-250-000-different-species-of-fossil-plants-and/) [David M. Raup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-raup/) > [Human health should now be thought of as a collective property of the human-associate d microbiota, as one group of researchers recently concluded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/human-health-should-now-be-thought-of-as-a-collective-property-of-the/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) [Browse all 285 Bacteria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Consider the difference in size between some of the very tiniest and the very largest creatures on Earth. A small bacterium weights as little as 0.00000000001 gram. A blue whale weighs about 100,000,000 grams. Yet a bacterium can kill a whale … . 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