--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a species, I think we have no choice…" description: "\"As a species, I think we have no choice but to try and forecast pandemics.\" — Nathan Wolfe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png" --- # As a species, I think we have no choice but to try and… ![“As a species, I think we have no choice but to try and forecast pandemics.” quote by Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png) > “As a species, I think we have no choice but to try and forecast pandemics.” [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must proactively model and predict disease spread to protect populations. **In simple terms:** Predict pandemics early. Key Takeaway Invest in forecasting tools. Themes health science preparedness Mood cautious analytical Type scientific pragmatic When to use this quote - government policy - research funding - public awareness campaigns - healthcare planning Key Concepts Epidemiology risk assessment data modeling Questions to Reflect On - What data would improve pandemic prediction? - How can societies act on uncertain forecasts? A Different Perspective Accurate forecasts are limited by data gaps and uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-try-473041/) [Forecast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forecast/) [Forecast Pandemics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forecast-pandemics-473038/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Pandemics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pandemics/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-think-473039/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Try Forecast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-forecast-473040/) ## Related quotes > [I try not to forecast the future and look down the road as far as my wrestling, because it's there. All I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldust/i-try-not-to-forecast-the-future-and-look-down-the-road-as-far-as-my/) [Goldust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldust/) > [“Maybe the future is like rowing for shore. Your only choice is to try or give up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-chandler/maybe-the-future-is-like-rowing-for-shore-your-only-choice-is-to-try/) [Kristen Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-chandler/) > [“To spend her life thinking I left her by choice. I would try harder. I would be a better wife. I would make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chevy-stevens/to-spend-her-life-thinking-i-left-her-by-choice-i-would-try-harder-i/) [Chevy Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chevy-stevens/) > [“To all users of technology who are willing to take a chance, make a choice, and try a new way of doing things so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-murray/to-all-users-of-technology-who-are-willing-to-take-a-chance-make-a/) [Katherine Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-murray/) > [We live in a world fraught with risk from new pandemics. Fortunately, we also now live in an era with the tools to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/we-live-in-a-world-fraught-with-risk-from-new-pandemics-fortunately/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [The features of globalization have huge consequences on pandemics. It just connects us so much more closely... And as a consequence, every one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/the-features-of-globalization-have-huge-consequences-on-pandemics-it/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [If we can contain and monitor animal viruses at an earlier stage - when they're first entering human populations, preferably before they've had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/if-we-can-contain-and-monitor-animal-viruses-at-an-earlier-stage-when/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Pandemics do not occur randomly. From malaria and influenza to AIDS and SARS, the lethal microbes have come, in the first instance, from animals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/pandemics-do-not-occur-randomly-from-malaria-and-influenza-to-aids/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Because pandemics almost always begin with the transmission of an animal microbe to a human, it's work that takes me all around the globe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/because-pandemics-almost-always-begin-with-the-transmission-of-an/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [I work to create systems that can accurately detect pandemics early, determine their likely importance, and, with any luck, crush those that have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/i-work-to-create-systems-that-can-accurately-detect-pandemics-early/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Vengeance, is good. You give it, you get it. It's all part of what makes us human. So thank god for vengeance. Otherwise, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/vengeance-is-good-you-give-it-you-get-it-it-s-all-part-of-what-makes/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [“Well people are just one species too, aren't they. And it's never stopped them fighting with each other; all the same species and think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/well-people-are-just-one-species-too-aren-t-they-and-it-s-never/) [Karel Čapek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/) > [If we can move together as a species, I think that there is a possibility that we can make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-we-can-move-together-as-a-species-i-think-that-there-is-a/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [Mars would seem, to me, to be the best place to focus our collective effort as a species... I think people would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ransone/mars-would-seem-to-me-to-be-the-best-place-to-focus-our-collective/) [James Ransone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ransone/) > [The medical argument for animal testing doesn't stand up. Even if it did, I don't think we should kill other species. We think we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/the-medical-argument-for-animal-testing-doesn-t-stand-up-even-if-it/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) ## More by Nathan Wolfe > [If we can contain and monitor animal viruses at an earlier stage - when they're first entering human populations, preferably before they've had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/if-we-can-contain-and-monitor-animal-viruses-at-an-earlier-stage-when/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [If an alien visited Earth, they would take some note of humans, but probably spend most of their time trying to understand the dominant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/if-an-alien-visited-earth-they-would-take-some-note-of-humans-but/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [If we can provide even a few months of early warning for just one pandemic, the benefits will outweigh all the time and energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/if-we-can-provide-even-a-few-months-of-early-warning-for-just-one/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [There are commonalities among all the pandemics that occur, and we can learn from them. One commonality is that they all come from animals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/there-are-commonalities-among-all-the-pandemics-that-occur-and-we-can/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Swine flu is not an anomaly. We know that swine flu - like the vast majority of new outbreaks - comes from animals. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/swine-flu-is-not-an-anomaly-we-know-that-swine-flu-like-the-vast/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [The reality is: By the time swine flu got on the radar screen of global public health, it had already spread. It was already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/the-reality-is-by-the-time-swine-flu-got-on-the-radar-screen-of/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [We live in a world fraught with risk from new pandemics. Fortunately, we also now live in an era with the tools to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/we-live-in-a-world-fraught-with-risk-from-new-pandemics-fortunately/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [I work to create systems that can accurately detect pandemics early, determine their likely importance, and, with any luck, crush those that have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/i-work-to-create-systems-that-can-accurately-detect-pandemics-early/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [The world can now maintain an acute infection in a way that is unprecedented in the history of life on our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/the-world-can-now-maintain-an-acute-infection-in-a-way-that-is/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [We know there are certain types of viruses that are nasty - influenza, for instance, is an area that is not a blindside. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/we-know-there-are-certain-types-of-viruses-that-are-nasty-influenza/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Because pandemics almost always begin with the transmission of an animal microbe to a human, it's work that takes me all around the globe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/because-pandemics-almost-always-begin-with-the-transmission-of-an/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Pandemics do not occur randomly. From malaria and influenza to AIDS and SARS, the lethal microbes have come, in the first instance, from animals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/pandemics-do-not-occur-randomly-from-malaria-and-influenza-to-aids/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [We've put huge resources into predicting tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes. HIV/AIDS is like an earthquake that's lasted 30 years and touched every country on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/we-ve-put-huge-resources-into-predicting-tsunamis-hurricanes-and/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [When there is an influenza threat, drop everything and focus on risks from influenza pandemics. When SARS spreads, focus on unknown respiratory diseases. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/when-there-is-an-influenza-threat-drop-everything-and-focus-on-risks/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) > [Seasonal flu is now a pandemic that lasts for years and years because you've got so many people that it's jumping back between northern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/seasonal-flu-is-now-a-pandemic-that-lasts-for-years-and-years-because/) [Nathan Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) [Explore all 24 Nathan Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a species, I think we have no choice but to try and forecast pandemics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathan Wolfe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-but-to-try-and-forecast/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-but-to-try-and-forecast/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/nathan-wolfe-23342_choice_as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-b_2439254.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As a species, I think we have no choice but to try and forecast pandemics.” — Nathan Wolfe", "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": "Nathan Wolfe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-wolfe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As a species, I think we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-but-to-try-and-forecast/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-wolfe/as-a-species-i-think-we-have-no-choice-but-to-try-and-forecast/#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 } } ] } ```