--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't want students who could make the…" description: "\"I don't want students who could make the next major breakthrough in renewable energy sources or space travel to have been taught that anything they don..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_awe_i-don-t-want-students-who-could-make-the_745836.png" --- # I don't want students who could make the next major… ![“I don't want students who could make the next major breakthrough in renewable energy sources or space travel to have been taught that anything they don't understand, and that nobody yet understands, is divinely constructed and therefore beyond their intellectual capacity. The day that happens…” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_awe_i-don-t-want-students-who-could-make-the_745836.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_awe_i-don-t-want-students-who-could-make-the_745836.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_awe_i-don-t-want-students-who-could-make-the_745836.png) > “I don't want students who could make the next major breakthrough in renewable energy sources or space travel to have been taught that anything they don't understand, and that nobody yet understands, is divinely constructed and therefore beyond their intellectual capacity. The day that happens, Americans will just sit in awe of what we don't understand, while we watch the rest of the world boldly go where no mortal has gone before.” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching that unknown things are beyond comprehension discourages curiosity and progress. **In simple terms:** Don't accept ignorance as divine; pursue understanding. Key Takeaway Encourage questioning and learning. Themes science education curiosity progress skepticism Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type educational motivational When to use this quote - classroom teaching - policy making - media reporting - public outreach Key Concepts epistemology science communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance humility with curiosity? - What role should uncertainty play in education? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on humility can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) [Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Don Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-understand-237268/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy sources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-sources/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-americans-5813450/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Renewable energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renewable-energy/) [Renewable energy sources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renewable-energy-sources/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Space travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space-travel/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Travel Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel-taught-3849625/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-students-527171/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Allow intelligent design into science textbooks, lecture halls, and laboratories, and the cost to the frontier of scientific discovery—the frontier that drives the economies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/allow-intelligent-design-into-science-textbooks-lecture-halls-and/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There is an urgent need to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry, dramatically reduce wasted energy, and significantly shift our power supplies from oil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/there-is-an-urgent-need-to-stop-subsidizing-the-fossil-fuel-industry/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Turkey's energy bill due to imports will fall with the increase in use of renewable energy sources. We have no control over the prices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-babacan/turkey-s-energy-bill-due-to-imports-will-fall-with-the-increase-in/) [Ali Babacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-babacan/) > [But reducing harmful emissions, abating our dependence on foreign oil and developing alternative renewable energy sources have benefits that go beyond environmental health, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-clyburn/but-reducing-harmful-emissions-abating-our-dependence-on-foreign-oil/) [Jim Clyburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-clyburn/) > [“The jarring fact is that humanity just finished spending two centuries GETTING RID OF renewable energy and replacing it with fossil fuels. When everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjorn-lomborg/the-jarring-fact-is-that-humanity-just-finished-spending-two/) [Bjorn Lomborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjorn-lomborg/) > [Because we are now running out of gas and oil, we must prepare quickly for a third change, to strict conservation and to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/because-we-are-now-running-out-of-gas-and-oil-we-must-prepare-quickly/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [This curious faith is predicated on the notion that we will soon develop unlimited new sources of energy: domestic oil fields, shale oil, gasified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/this-curious-faith-is-predicated-on-the-notion-that-we-will-soon/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I spent more than 20 years of my professional career researching and developing renewable energy sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-mcnerney/i-spent-more-than-20-years-of-my-professional-career-researching-and/) [Jerry McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-mcnerney/) > [Turkeys energy bill due to imports will fall with the increase in use of renewable energy sources. We have no control over the prices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-babacan/turkeys-energy-bill-due-to-imports-will-fall-with-the-increase-in-use/) [Ali Babacan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-babacan/) > [The relationship between renewable energy sources and the communities we expect to host them must be appropriate and sustainable and, above all, acceptable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-paterson/the-relationship-between-renewable-energy-sources-and-the-communities/) [Owen Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-paterson/) > [The more we are using clean energy, renewable energy sources, the less environmentally problematic facilities end up being a problem for everybody, but particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-more-we-are-using-clean-energy-renewable-energy-sources-the-less/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We should see the leadership from the White House setting dates certain for certain goals of achieving greater alliance on alternative and renewable energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kind/we-should-see-the-leadership-from-the-white-house-setting-dates/) [Ron Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kind/) > [We should not just consume hydrocarbon fuel but use it to develop nuclear energy, hydro power and renewable energy sources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/we-should-not-just-consume-hydrocarbon-fuel-but-use-it-to-develop/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [There is no question we need an energy policy overhaul in America. A key part of that overhaul must include moving forward aggressively with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/there-is-no-question-we-need-an-energy-policy-overhaul-in-america-a/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [I have been working for years to promote a responsible energy policy that works to increase energy efficiency and invest in alternative and renewable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-capps/i-have-been-working-for-years-to-promote-a-responsible-energy-policy/) [Lois Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-capps/) ## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The Pacific is the best toilet for satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-pacific-is-the-best-toilet-for-satellites/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More Awe quotes > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [There are certain scenes that would awe an atheist into belief without the help of any other argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/there-are-certain-scenes-that-would-awe-an-atheist-into-belief/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/awe-combined-with-intimacy-is-the-essence-of-christian-worship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/oftentimes-we-call-life-bitter-names-but-only-when-we-ourselves-are/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [The laws of nature are the skeleton of the universe. They support it, give it shape, tie it together. Taken as a whole, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-trefil/the-laws-of-nature-are-the-skeleton-of-the-universe-they-support-it/) [James Trefil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-trefil/) > [When you look at yourself and feel dissatisfaction about any part of you, you will continue to attract feelings of dissatisfaction, because the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/when-you-look-at-yourself-and-feel-dissatisfaction-about-any-part-of/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Sometimes not seeing things can be a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/sometimes-not-seeing-things-can-be-a-blessing/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [I'm always in awe at how fast television is and how quickly you're called upon to be 100 percent invested in a character with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latanya-richardson/i-m-always-in-awe-at-how-fast-television-is-and-how-quickly-you-re/) [LaTanya Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latanya-richardson/) [Browse all 1,119 Awe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't want students who could make the next major breakthrough in renewable energy sources or space travel to have been taught that anything they don't understand, and that nobody yet understands, is divinely constructed and therefore beyond their intellectual capacity. 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