--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are like germs, only bigger. That…" description: "\"“People are like germs, only bigger. That bit of wisdom has proven true, for the most part. Humans are little more than highly evolved bacteria, leeche..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/mike-duran-66872_nature-of-man_people-are-like-germs-only-bigger-that-b_1707769.jpg" --- # People are like germs, only bigger. That bit of wisdom has… ![“People are like germs, only bigger. That bit of wisdom has proven true, for the most part. Humans are little more than highly evolved bacteria, leeches on a rotting ball of clay. It’s depressing, I know.” quote by Mike Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/mike-duran-66872_nature-of-man_people-are-like-germs-only-bigger-that-b_1707769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/mike-duran-66872_nature-of-man_people-are-like-germs-only-bigger-that-b_1707769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/mike-duran-66872_nature-of-man_people-are-like-germs-only-bigger-that-b_1707769.jpg) > ““People are like germs, only bigger. That bit of wisdom has proven true, for the most part. Humans are little more than highly evolved bacteria, leeches on a rotting ball of clay. It’s depressing, I know.”” Mike Duran ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens humans to germs and bacteria, conveying a bleak view of humanity's significance. **In simple terms:** Humans are compared to tiny, insignificant organisms. Key Takeaway Reflect on humility and existential perspective. Themes existential philosophy humility Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - philosophical discussion - creative writing Key Concepts biology meaning nihilism Questions to Reflect On - What gives your life meaning? - How do you find hope amid such views? A Different Perspective It may be overly pessimistic and ignore human achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bacteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Also I could hear Amanda’s voice: Why are you being so weak? Love’s never a fair trade. 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Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) > [“Chaos was spreading through the scene like germs at a preschool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kroese/chaos-was-spreading-through-the-scene-like-germs-at-a-preschool/) [Robert Kroese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kroese/) > [When you walk into anybody's house with footwear, you tend to bring in germs and bacteria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayawati/when-you-walk-into-anybody-s-house-with-footwear-you-tend-to-bring-in/) [Mayawati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayawati/) > [Dead men may envy living mites in cheese, Or good germs even. Microbes have their joys, And subdivide, and never come to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-owen/dead-men-may-envy-living-mites-in-cheese-or-good-germs-even-microbes/) [Wilfred Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-owen/) > [I want to change something. I want to stop the germs from attacking my daughters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-want-to-change-something-i-want-to-stop-the-germs-from-attacking-my/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [In the germ, when the first trace of life begins to stir, music is the nurse of the soul; it murmurs in the ear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettina-skrzypczak/in-the-germ-when-the-first-trace-of-life-begins-to-stir-music-is-the/) Bettina Skrzypczak > [A human body can think thoughts, play a piano, kill germs, remove toxins, make a baby all at once. Once it's doing that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/a-human-body-can-think-thoughts-play-a-piano-kill-germs-remove-toxins/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [The person in misery does not need a look that judges and criticizes but a comforting presence that brings peace and hope and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/the-person-in-misery-does-not-need-a-look-that-judges-and-criticizes/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [... in spite of being happier than I ever dreamed I could be, I'm also soberer. The fear that something may happen to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-webster/in-spite-of-being-happier-than-i-ever-dreamed-i-could-be-i-m-also/) [Jean Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-webster/) > [The germs of existence contained in this spot of earth, with ample food, and ample room to expand in, would fill millions of worlds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-malthus/the-germs-of-existence-contained-in-this-spot-of-earth-with-ample/) [Thomas Malthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-malthus/) > [The revolutions of thought which shape the basic outlook of an age are not disseminated through text-books- they spread like epidemics, through contamination by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-revolutions-of-thought-which-shape-the-basic-outlook-of-an-age/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [The Self in you is the same as the Self Universal. Whatever powers are manifested throughout the world, those powers exist in germ, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/the-self-in-you-is-the-same-as-the-self-universal-whatever-powers-are/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) ## More by Mike Duran > [“They strain over gnats and swallow camels. They also cannibalize each other for power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duran/they-strain-over-gnats-and-swallow-camels-they-also-cannibalize-each/) Mike Duran > [Truth be told, there wasn't a single one of them who didn't deserve a lightning bolt from the Almighty. Everything else was straight mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duran/truth-be-told-there-wasn-t-a-single-one-of-them-who-didn-t-deserve-a/) Mike Duran > [“So many questions. So much pain. I felt like someone had ripped open my chest only to discover a dark, rotting cavity. Nevertheless, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duran/so-many-questions-so-much-pain-i-felt-like-someone-had-ripped-open-my/) Mike Duran Explore all 4 Mike Duran quotes ## 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": "“People are like germs, only bigger. That bit of wisdom has proven true, for the most part. Humans are little more than highly evolved bacteria, leeches on a rotting ball of clay. 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