--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The secret of improved plant breeding…" description: "\"The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love.\" — Luther Burbank" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg" --- # The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from… ![“The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love.” quote by Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg) > “The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love.” [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Successful breeding needs both technical skill and genuine care for the plants. **In simple terms:** Science plus love yields better crops. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy in research. Themes agriculture empathy science Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - farm management - research labs - gardening - education Key Concepts plant genetics ethical stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How can you show care for your research subjects? - What balance of emotion and data is optimal? A Different Perspective Love alone cannot replace rigorous methodology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Scientific knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-knowledge/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love. While I was conducting experiments to make spineless cacti, I often talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-apart-from-scientific-knowledge-2/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Plant breeding has been going on for millennia and it's a gradual process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-don/plant-breeding-has-been-going-on-for-millennia-and-it-s-a-gradual/) [Monty Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-don/) > [All kinds of mysterious phenomena exist in this world, but answers to most of them have come with advances in scientific knowledge. Love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/all-kinds-of-mysterious-phenomena-exist-in-this-world-but-answers-to/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [Faith is harder to shake than knowledge, love succumbs less to change than respect, hate is more enduring than aversion, and the impetus to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/faith-is-harder-to-shake-than-knowledge-love-succumbs-less-to-change/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Many have said much about love, but you will find love itself only if you seek it among the disciples of Christ. For only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/many-have-said-much-about-love-but-you-will-find-love-itself-only-if/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [I bless / all knowledge of love, all ways of publishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-van-duyn/i-bless-all-knowledge-of-love-all-ways-of-publishing-it/) [Mona Van Duyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-van-duyn/) > [You lovers of knowledge! So what have you done out of your love of knowledge up to now? Have you already stolen and murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-lovers-of-knowledge-so-what-have-you-done-out-of-your-love-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The only souls that have knowledge of love, is of those who fall in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/the-only-souls-that-have-knowledge-of-love-is-of-those-who-fall-in/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [Then who is the Man that has no Will, or Knowledge? Love! This is the Man, a piece of love from birth to death,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/then-who-is-the-man-that-has-no-will-or-knowledge-love-this-is-the/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [There are only two noble pursuits in life: knowledge and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-only-two-noble-pursuits-in-life-knowledge-and-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who are not capable of sinning are said that they have attained freedom. The knowledge of the Truth raises them even more. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/those-who-are-not-capable-of-sinning-are-said-that-they-have-attained/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [“I have always loved everything about you. Even what I didn’t understand. And I have always known that, at heart, I would have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-have-always-loved-everything-about-you-even-what-i-didn-t/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Accept loss forever. Be submissive to everything, open, listening. No fear or shame in the dignity of your experience, language, and knowledge. Be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/accept-loss-forever-be-submissive-to-everything-open-listening-no/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Knowledge, love, power-there is the complete life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/knowledge-love-power-there-is-the-complete-life/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Neither love without knowledge nor knowledge without love can produce a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-good-life-is-one-inspired-by-love-and-guided-by-knowledge-neither/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Luther Burbank > [If we cannot meet our everyday surroundings with equanimity and pleasure and grow each day in some useful direction, then... life is on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/if-we-cannot-meet-our-everyday-surroundings-with-equanimity-and/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Let us read the Bible without the ill-fitting colored spectacles of theology, just as we read other books, using our judgment and reason. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/let-us-read-the-bible-without-the-ill-fitting-colored-spectacles-of/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Plants are as responsive to thought as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/plants-are-as-responsive-to-thought-as-children/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Science . . . has opened our eyes to the vastness of the universe and given us light, truth and freedom from fear where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/science-has-opened-our-eyes-to-the-vastness-of-the-universe-and-given/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/for-those-who-do-not-think-it-is-best-at-least-to-rearrange-their/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [The greatest happiness in the world is to make others happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-greatest-happiness-in-the-world-is-to-make-others-happy/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Heredity is nothing but stored environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/heredity-is-nothing-but-stored-environment/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/flowers-always-make-people-better-happier-and-more-helpful-they-are/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Religion grows with the intelligence of man, but all religions of the past and probably all of the future will sooner or later become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/religion-grows-with-the-intelligence-of-man-but-all-religions-of-the/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Justice, love, truth, peace and harmony, a serene unity with science and the laws of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/justice-love-truth-peace-and-harmony-a-serene-unity-with-science-and/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Our lives as we lead them as passed on to others, whether in physical or mental forms, tingeing all future lives together. This should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/our-lives-as-we-lead-them-as-passed-on-to-others-whether-in-physical/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [We must return to nature and nature's god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/we-must-return-to-nature-and-nature-s-god/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [The idea that a good God would send people to a burning hell is utterly damnable to me - the raving of insanity, superstition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-idea-that-a-good-god-would-send-people-to-a-burning-hell-is/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Science is the only savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/science-is-the-only-savior/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [“We must learn that any person who will not accept what he knows to be truth for the very love of truth alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/we-must-learn-that-any-person-who-will-not-accept-what-he-knows-to-be/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) [Explore all 79 Luther Burbank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## More Breeding quotes > [“Galton’s gospel of eugenics found fertile soil in Britain, in the intellectual salons of Europe, and in the United States. Beginning in the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-loconte/galton-s-gospel-of-eugenics-found-fertile-soil-in-britain-in-the/) Joseph Loconte > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/there-are-few-defects-in-our-nature-so-glaring-as-not-to-be-veiled/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Exchange of breeding individuals between two populations tends to homogenize their gene pools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-grant/exchange-of-breeding-individuals-between-two-populations-tends-to/) [Peter R. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-grant/) > [Good-breeding is not confined to externals, much less to any particular dress or attitude of the body; it is the art of pleasing, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/good-breeding-is-not-confined-to-externals-much-less-to-any/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [The right to live does not connote the right of each man to reproduce his kind ... As we lessen the stringency of natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pearson/the-right-to-live-does-not-connote-the-right-of-each-man-to-reproduce/) [Karl Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pearson/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [Easy writing's curst hard reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/easy-writing-s-curst-hard-reading/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [In a way, human beings have never been part of the natural order; we're not biological in the normal sense. Normal biological animals stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/in-a-way-human-beings-have-never-been-part-of-the-natural-order-we-re/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [Compliments of congratulation are always kindly taken, and cost nothing but pen, ink and paper. I consider them as draughts upon good breeding, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/compliments-of-congratulation-are-always-kindly-taken-and-cost/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Organized charity itself is. . . the surest sign that our civilization has bred, is breeding and is perpetuating constantly increasing numbers of defectives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-sanger/organized-charity-itself-is-the-surest-sign-that-our-civilization-has/) [Margaret Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-sanger/) > [I think it is more of an intuitive, circular kind of personality, for starters. And, as I say of horses, the secret to breeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walton/i-think-it-is-more-of-an-intuitive-circular-kind-of-personality-for/) Alice Walton > [Well, puppy mills are - it's just a name given to really, really bad dog breeding facilities and sadly, we have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-trump/well-puppy-mills-are-it-s-just-a-name-given-to-really-really-bad-dog/) [Lara Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-trump/) Browse all 411 Breeding quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luther Burbank" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-apart-from-scientific-knowledge/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breeding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-apart-from-scientific-knowledge/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/luther-burbank-8576_breeding_the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-ap_911271.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love.” — Luther Burbank", "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": "Luther Burbank", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The secret of improved plant breeding,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-apart-from-scientific-knowledge/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-secret-of-improved-plant-breeding-apart-from-scientific-knowledge/#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 } } ] } ```