Accomplished Quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson
“Lots of people think, well, we're humans; we're the most intelligent and accomplished species; we're in charge. Bacteria may have a different outlook: more bacteria live and work in one linear centimeter of your lower colon than all the humans who have ever lived. That's what's going on in your digestive tract right now. Are we in charge, or are we simply hosts for bacteria? It all depends on your outlook.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Cosmic perspective on microbiome
Humans are hosts to vast bacterial populations that dominate our biology, challenging notions of control.
In simple terms: We share our bodies with countless microbes.
Key Takeaway
Respect and study our microbial partners.
Themes
biology
humility
ecosystem
perspective
science
Mood
educational
thought‑provoking
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- healthcare
- dietary choices
- public education
- research funding
- personal hygiene
Key Concepts
microbiology
ecology
philosophy of mind
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing our microbial dependence change daily habits?
- What responsibilities arise from being a host?
A Different Perspective
Bacteria are not the sole determinants of health; lifestyle matters.
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
![“[U]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle the apparatus of oppression.” quote by Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d7b/shulamith-firestone-12980_accomplished_u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together_5485.jpg)
