--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who would legislate against the…" description: "\"Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity, electricity and the unreasonable velocity of light, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg" --- # Those who would legislate against the teaching of… ![“Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity, electricity and the unreasonable velocity of light, and also, should introduce a clause to prevent the use of the telescope, the microscope and the spectroscope or any other instrument of precision…” quote by Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg) > “Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity, electricity and the unreasonable velocity of light, and also, should introduce a clause to prevent the use of the telescope, the microscope and the spectroscope or any other instrument of precision which may in the future be invented, constructed or used for the discovery of truth.” [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. If we ban teaching evolution, we should also ban fundamental scientific tools and laws, highlighting the absurdity of restricting knowledge. **In simple terms:** Banning evolution is as absurd as banning gravity or scientific instruments. Key Takeaway Defend scientific education and inquiry. Themes science education freedom Mood urgent determined Type persuasive philosophical When to use this quote - policy debate - school curricula - public discourse Key Concepts censorship logic critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - Why is scientific literacy essential for society? - How can we balance cultural beliefs with evidence‑based teaching? A Different Perspective The hyperbole may ignore nuanced arguments about curriculum content. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Clauses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clauses/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Discovery Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery-truth-1256644/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Electricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electricity/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Evolution Legislate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution-legislate-5974454/) [Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravity/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Introducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introducing/) [Legislate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislate/) [Legislate Gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislate-gravity-5974456/) [Legislate Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislate-teaching-5974455/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Microscopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microscopes/) [Precision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precision/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Telescopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telescopes/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Unreasonable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreasonable/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Velocity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/velocity/) ## Related quotes > [Universal orthodoxy is enriched by every new discovery of truth: what at first appeared universal, by wishing to stand still, sooner or later becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-quinet/universal-orthodoxy-is-enriched-by-every-new-discovery-of-truth-what/) [Edgar Quinet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-quinet/) > [All men are our brothers. As far as the discovery of the truth is concerned, they are all working for the same purpose; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sarton/all-men-are-our-brothers-as-far-as-the-discovery-of-the-truth-is/) [George Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sarton/) > [“It was good of Friedrich Nietzsche to declare God dead – I declare that he has never been born. It is a created fiction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/it-was-good-of-friedrich-nietzsche-to-declare-god-dead-i-declare-that-2/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Without free speech no search for Truth is possible; without free speech no discovery of Truth is useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/without-free-speech-no-search-for-truth-is-possible-without-free/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [“Science, my boy, is made up of mistakes; but of mistakes which lead to the discovery of truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/science-my-boy-is-made-up-of-mistakes-but-of-mistakes-which-lead-to/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Without free speech no search for truth is possible... no discovery of truth is useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/without-free-speech-no-search-for-truth-is-possible-no-discovery-of/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [“TRUTH, n.: An ingenious compound of desirability and appearance. Discovery of truth is the sole purpose of philosophy, which is the most ancient occupation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/truth-n-an-ingenious-compound-of-desirability-and-appearance/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Some mathematician, I believe, has said that true pleasure lies not in the discovery of truth, but in the search for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/some-mathematician-i-believe-has-said-that-true-pleasure-lies-not-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The world always makes the assumption that the exposure of an error is identical with the discovery of truth - that error and truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-always-makes-the-assumption-that-the-exposure-of-an-error/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In examining the evidence of the Christian religion, it is essential to the discovery of truth that we bring to the investigation a mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/in-examining-the-evidence-of-the-christian-religion-it-is-essential/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [To realize that one is really alone, gives new courage to the person. Discovery of truth is a journey, a voyage on which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vimala-thakar/to-realize-that-one-is-really-alone-gives-new-courage-to-the-person/) [Vimala Thakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vimala-thakar/) > [Because of the control of the media by corporate wealth, the discovery of truth depends on an alternative media, such as small radio stations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/because-of-the-control-of-the-media-by-corporate-wealth-the-discovery/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I can't legislate a song into being; it just will not happen for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/i-can-t-legislate-a-song-into-being-it-just-will-not-happen-for-me/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [If you're not electing Christians then in essence you are going to legislate sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-harris/if-you-re-not-electing-christians-then-in-essence-you-are-going-to/) [Katherine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-harris/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## 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 Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity, electricity and the unreasonable velocity of light, and also, should introduce a clause to prevent the use of the telescope, the microscope and the spectroscope or any other instrument of precision which may in the future be invented, constructed or used for the discovery of truth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luther Burbank" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/those-who-would-legislate-against-the-teaching-of-evolution-should/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/those-who-would-legislate-against-the-teaching-of-evolution-should/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/luther-burbank-8576_atheism_those-who-would-legislate-against-the-te_3206623.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who would legislate against the teaching of evolution should also legislate against gravity…” — 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": "Those who would legislate against the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/those-who-would-legislate-against-the-teaching-of-evolution-should/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/those-who-would-legislate-against-the-teaching-of-evolution-should/#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 } } ] } ```