--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in our genes to understand the…" description: "\"It is in our genes to understand the universe if we can, to keep trying even if we cannot, and to be enchanted by the act of learning all the way.\" — L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/lewis-thomas-2299_education_it-is-in-our-genes-to-understand-the-uni_53507.png" --- # It is in our genes to understand the universe if we can… ![“It is in our genes to understand the universe if we can, to keep trying even if we cannot, and to be enchanted by the act of learning all the way.” quote by Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/lewis-thomas-2299_education_it-is-in-our-genes-to-understand-the-uni_53507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/lewis-thomas-2299_education_it-is-in-our-genes-to-understand-the-uni_53507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/lewis-thomas-2299_education_it-is-in-our-genes-to-understand-the-uni_53507.png) > “It is in our genes to understand the universe if we can, to keep trying even if we cannot, and to be enchanted by the act of learning all the way.” [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human curiosity is innate, driving us to explore and learn despite uncertainty, finding joy in the process itself. **In simple terms:** Innate curiosity fuels lifelong learning. Key Takeaway Learning is a rewarding journey. Themes curiosity exploration resilience wonder knowledge growth Mood inspired reflective optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - academic research - personal development - scientific inquiry - creative problem solving Key Concepts human nature cognitive drive learning process Practical Applications - educational curriculum design - science communication Questions to Reflect On - How does embracing uncertainty enhance learning? - What role does wonder play in scientific discovery? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Enchanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enchanted/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Genes Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes-understand-750682/) [Keep trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep-trying/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Understand Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-universe/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-trying-750683/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Natural, organic and unrefined foods speak a language your genes understand. 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We are all just interpreting signals from the universe and trying to make sense of them. Dim,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bones-the-doctor-in-the-photo/there-is-no-such-thing-as-objectivity-we-are-all-just-interpreting/) [Bones The Doctor in the Photo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bones-the-doctor-in-the-photo/) > [In more simple words, we might say everything in the universe is trying to become every other thing; and every condition of everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/in-more-simple-words-we-might-say-everything-in-the-universe-is/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [“We are the dust of the Universe, trying to understand itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-dust-of-the-universe-trying-to-understand-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That whisper you keep hearing is the universe trying to get your attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/that-whisper-you-keep-hearing-is-the-universe-trying-to-get-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I maintain, despite the moment's evidence against the claim, that we are born and grow up with a fondness for each other, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/i-maintain-despite-the-moment-s-evidence-against-the-claim-that-we/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Survival, in the cool economics of biology, means simply the persistence of one's own genes in the generations to follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/survival-in-the-cool-economics-of-biology-means-simply-the/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [“The uniformity of the earth's life, more astonishing than its diversity, is accountable by the high probability that we derived, originally, from some single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-uniformity-of-the-earth-s-life-more-astonishing-than-its/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The drive to be useful is encoded in our genes. But when we gather in very large numbers, as in the modern nation-state, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-drive-to-be-useful-is-encoded-in-our-genes-but-when-we-gather-in/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [What is the universe? Is it a great 3D movie in which we are the unwilling actors? Is it a cosmic joke, a giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-pagels/what-is-the-universe-is-it-a-great-3d-movie-in-which-we-are-the/) [Heinz Pagels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-pagels/) > [“There is but one reality, that is true -- but the two of you experience it in slightly different ways. The older you get,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/there-is-but-one-reality-that-is-true-but-the-two-of-you-experience/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [If you understand how the universe operates, you control it in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/if-you-understand-how-the-universe-operates-you-control-it-in-a-way/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## More by Lewis Thomas > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [“It is not a simple thing to decide where we fit, for at one time or another in our lives we manage to organize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/it-is-not-a-simple-thing-to-decide-where-we-fit-for-at-one-time-or/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [If an idea cannot move on its own, pushing it doesn't help; best to let it lie there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/if-an-idea-cannot-move-on-its-own-pushing-it-doesn-t-help-best-to-let/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Left to ourselves, mechanistic and autonomic, we hanker for friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/left-to-ourselves-mechanistic-and-autonomic-we-hanker-for-friends/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [I do not agree with this century's fashion of running down the human species as a failed try, a doomed sport. At our worst,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/i-do-not-agree-with-this-century-s-fashion-of-running-down-the-human/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [It would seem to me... an offense against nature, for us to come on the same scene endowed as we are with the curiosity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/it-would-seem-to-me-an-offense-against-nature-for-us-to-come-on-the/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The drive to be useful is encoded in our genes. But when we gather in very large numbers, as in the modern nation-state, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-drive-to-be-useful-is-encoded-in-our-genes-but-when-we-gather-in/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach into outer space on the Voyager spacecraft. But that would be boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/i-would-send-the-complete-works-of-johann-sebastian-bach-into-outer/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [“Nature abhors a long silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/nature-abhors-a-long-silence/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [“The future is too interesting and dangerous to be entrusted to any predictable, reliable agency. We need all the fallibility we can get. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-future-is-too-interesting-and-dangerous-to-be-entrusted-to-any/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [We pass the word around; we ponder how the case is put by different people, we read the poetry; we meditate over the literature;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-pass-the-word-around-we-ponder-how-the-case-is-put-by-different/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [“The uniformity of the earth's life, more astonishing than its diversity, is accountable by the high probability that we derived, originally, from some single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-uniformity-of-the-earth-s-life-more-astonishing-than-its/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Having long suspected that there was something alive in there, running the place, separate from everything else, absolutely individual and independent, we've celebrated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/having-long-suspected-that-there-was-something-alive-in-there-running/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [We are told that the trouble with modern man is that he has been trying to detach himself from nature... 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