---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My opinion - nay more, my conviction - is…"
description: "\"My opinion - nay more, my conviction - is that, in the present state of science, as you rightly say, spontaneous generation is a chimera; and it would ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/louis-pasteur-3151_chimera_my-opinion-nay-more-my-conviction-is-tha_2540589.png"
---

#  My opinion - nay more, my conviction - is that, in the…

![“My opinion - nay more, my conviction - is that, in the present state of science, as you rightly say, spontaneous generation is a chimera; and it would be impossible for you to contradict me, for my experiments all stand forth to prove that spontaneous generation is a chimera.” quote by Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/louis-pasteur-3151_chimera_my-opinion-nay-more-my-conviction-is-tha_2540589.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/louis-pasteur-3151_chimera_my-opinion-nay-more-my-conviction-is-tha_2540589.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e1/louis-pasteur-3151_chimera_my-opinion-nay-more-my-conviction-is-tha_2540589.png)

> “My opinion - nay more, my conviction - is that, in the present state of science, as you rightly say, spontaneous generation is a chimera; and it would be impossible for you to contradict me, for my experiments all stand forth to prove that spontaneous generation is a chimera.”

[Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Spontaneous generation is impossible; experiments disproving it are conclusive.

**In simple terms:** Life doesn’t arise spontaneously; experiments prove it.

Key Takeaway

Trust empirical evidence over speculation.

Themes

science methodology skepticism

Mood

analytical skeptical

Type

scientific educational

When to use this quote

- laboratory research
- education
- public policy
- science communication

Key Concepts

experimental validation biology philosophy of science

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence convinces you of a claim?
- How do you handle conflicting data?

A Different Perspective

Some may argue alternative explanations exist.

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> [One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede that the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. Yet here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/one-has-only-to-contemplate-the-magnitude-of-this-task-to-concede/)

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> [There are only two possible explanations as to how life arose: Spontaneous generation arising to evolution or a supernatural creative act of God… There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/there-are-only-two-possible-explanations-as-to-how-life-arose/)

[George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/)

> [Never will the doctrine of spontaneous generation recover from the mortal blow struck by this simple experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/never-will-the-doctrine-of-spontaneous-generation-recover-from-the/)

[Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/)

> [I do not want to believe in God. Therefore I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible, spontaneous generation leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/i-do-not-want-to-believe-in-god-therefore-i-choose-to-believe-in-that/)

[George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/)

> [ \[Attributing the origin of life to spontaneous generation.\] However improbable we regard this event, it will almost certainly happen at least once… The time...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/attributing-the-origin-of-life-to-spontaneous-generation-however/)

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> [When it comes to the origin of life there are only two possibilities: creation or spontaneous generation. There is no third way. Spontaneous generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/when-it-comes-to-the-origin-of-life-there-are-only-two-possibilities/)

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> [Language is the only chimera whose illusory power is endless, the inexhaustibility which keeps life from being impoverished. Let men learn to serve language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/language-is-the-only-chimera-whose-illusory-power-is-endless-the/)

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> [Human history, like all great movements, was cyclical, and returned to the point of beginning. The idea of indefinite progress in a right line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bellamy/human-history-like-all-great-movements-was-cyclical-and-returned-to/)

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> [Since there must be chimeras, why is not perfection the chimera of all men?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/since-there-must-be-chimeras-why-is-not-perfection-the-chimera-of-all/)

[Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/)

> [Commemoration of Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 A memory of yesterday's pleasures, a fear of tomorrow's dangers, a straw under my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/commemoration-of-pandita-mary-ramabai-translator-of-the-scriptures/)

[John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/)

## More by Louis Pasteur

> [There are no such things as applied sciences, only applications of science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/there-are-no-such-things-as-applied-sciences-only-applications-of/)

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> [Could I but know all, I would have the faith of a Breton peasant woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/could-i-but-know-all-i-would-have-the-faith-of-a-breton-peasant-woman/)

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> [Science belongs to no one country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-pasteur/science-belongs-to-no-one-country/)

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[Louis Pasteur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-pasteur/)

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> [Commemoration of Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 A memory of yesterday's pleasures, a fear of tomorrow's dangers, a straw under my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/commemoration-of-pandita-mary-ramabai-translator-of-the-scriptures/)

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