--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's set the existence-of-God issue…" description: "\"Let's set the existence-of-God issue aside for a later volume, and just stipulate that in some way, self-replicating organisms came into existence on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/neal-stephenson-362_biology_let-s-set-the-existence-of-god-issue-asi_2624016.png" --- # Let's set the existence-of-God issue aside for a later… ![“Let's set the existence-of-God issue aside for a later volume, and just stipulate that in some way, self-replicating organisms came into existence on this planet and immediately began trying to get rid of each other, either by spamming their environments with rough copies of themselves, or by more…” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/neal-stephenson-362_biology_let-s-set-the-existence-of-god-issue-asi_2624016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/neal-stephenson-362_biology_let-s-set-the-existence-of-god-issue-asi_2624016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/neal-stephenson-362_biology_let-s-set-the-existence-of-god-issue-asi_2624016.png) > “Let's set the existence-of-God issue aside for a later volume, and just stipulate that in some way, self-replicating organisms came into existence on this planet and immediately began trying to get rid of each other, either by spamming their environments with rough copies of themselves, or by more direct means which hardly need to be belabored. Most of them failed, and their genetic legacy was erased from the universe forever, but a few found some way to survive and to propagate.” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑replicating lifeforms compete, most fail, a few survive, illustrating natural selection and survival. **In simple terms:** Survival favors adaptable replicators. Key Takeaway Adapt and innovate. Themes science evolution competition Mood curious analytical Type scientific philosophical When to use this quote - biology research - technology development - environmental policy Key Concepts natural selection replication dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What traits ensure survival? - How does competition drive innovation? A Different Perspective Complex systems are unpredictable; outcomes uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Came Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came-existence-448726/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-of-god/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [God Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-issue-956955/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Organisms Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisms-came-2134543/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Replicating Organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/replicating-organisms-2134544/) [Rough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Replicating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-replicating-469580/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Volume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volume/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [We are all susceptible to the pull of viral ideas. 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But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. 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