--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been a privilege to pursue…" description: "\"It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.\" — Paul Nurse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/paul-nurse-22409_helping_it-has-been-a-privilege-to-pursue-knowle_1730192.png" --- # It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own… ![“It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.” quote by Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/paul-nurse-22409_helping_it-has-been-a-privilege-to-pursue-knowle_1730192.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/paul-nurse-22409_helping_it-has-been-a-privilege-to-pursue-knowle_1730192.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/641/paul-nurse-22409_helping_it-has-been-a-privilege-to-pursue-knowle_1730192.png) > “It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.” [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pursuing knowledge for its own sake can lead to practical benefits for humanity. **In simple terms:** Learning for love can help others. Key Takeaway Seek knowledge beyond personal gain. Themes science humanism purpose Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - research - education - policy making - public outreach Key Concepts intrinsic motivation social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can you align personal curiosity with societal good? - What practical steps turn pure research into benefit? A Different Perspective Practical applications may be far in the future. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Help Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-mankind-243547/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-sake-1246642/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-practical-778765/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Privilege Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege-pursue-1423776/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Pursue Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-knowledge-1423775/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/literature-is-well-enough-as-a-time-passer-and-for-the-improvement/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Pursue the knowledge of the LORD God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/pursue-the-knowledge-of-the-lord-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I have spent a lifetime looking for remedies to all manner of life's problems -- personal, social, political, global. I am deeply suspicious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-have-spent-a-lifetime-looking-for-remedies-to-all-manner-of-life-s/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [To pursue knowledge is obligatory on every believing man and woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-majah/to-pursue-knowledge-is-obligatory-on-every-believing-man-and-woman/) [Ibn Majah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-majah/) > [No matter where we begin, if we pursue knowledge diligently and honestly, our quest will inevitably lead us from the things of the earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/no-matter-where-we-begin-if-we-pursue-knowledge-diligently-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [“Pursue knowledge as though it is your life-blood, then you will know greatness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-rockliffe/pursue-knowledge-as-though-it-is-your-life-blood-then-you-will-know/) [Monique Rockliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-rockliffe/) > [Every day that you get up, it's some kind of victory if you're making a good product, or working on a project that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/every-day-that-you-get-up-it-s-some-kind-of-victory-if-you-re-making-2/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [“A year before he died, Charles Sumner explained his lifelong quest to a friend: “My hope has been to help mankind, and advance the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-puleo/a-year-before-he-died-charles-sumner-explained-his-lifelong-quest-to/) [Stephen Puleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-puleo/) > [Every day that you get up, it's some kind of victory if you're making a good product, or working on a project that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/every-day-that-you-get-up-it-s-some-kind-of-victory-if-you-re-making/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [“I want you all to think not only of yourselves and your families but everybody else who is alive. We are all equal, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/i-want-you-all-to-think-not-only-of-yourselves-and-your-families-but/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [“The gods, he knows now, will not help mankind. If they even exist—which he is no longer certain of—it is clear they do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-friedman/the-gods-he-knows-now-will-not-help-mankind-if-they-even-exist-which/) [C.S. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-friedman/) > [We hope that this honor you have done us will bring the time of further realization of these benefits closer and will help all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-libby/we-hope-that-this-honor-you-have-done-us-will-bring-the-time-of/) [Willard Libby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-libby/) > [“Though denigrated by some outside academia and research, she embraced knowledge for its own sake and what better way to honor that than reveling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/though-denigrated-by-some-outside-academia-and-research-she-embraced/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [Knowledge for the sake of knowledge! Truth for truth's sake! This is inhuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/knowledge-for-the-sake-of-knowledge-truth-for-truth-s-sake-this-is/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Knowledge for its own sake was meaningless, its mere accumulation a waste of time. Knowledge must lead to understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-finley/knowledge-for-its-own-sake-was-meaningless-its-mere-accumulation-a/) [Moses Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-finley/) ## More by Paul Nurse > [During the winter my attention was attracted to the changes in the stars and planets in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/during-the-winter-my-attention-was-attracted-to-the-changes-in-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [Ever since Sir Isaac Newton's times, scientists have worked in the same sort of way: They show a great respect for experiment and observation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/ever-since-sir-isaac-newton-s-times-scientists-have-worked-in-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My 6 years with Murdoch were pivotal for my entire research career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-6-years-with-murdoch-were-pivotal-for-my-entire-research-career/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [It was during my time at secondary school that I abandoned religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/it-was-during-my-time-at-secondary-school-that-i-abandoned-religion/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I decided that the University of Sussex in Brighton was a good place for this work because it had a strong tradition in bacterial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-decided-that-the-university-of-sussex-in-brighton-was-a-good-place/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I am still a keen mountain walker and an enthusiastic glider pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-am-still-a-keen-mountain-walker-and-an-enthusiastic-glider-pilot/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I think it was this curiosity about the natural world which awoke my early interest in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-think-it-was-this-curiosity-about-the-natural-world-which-awoke-my/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [Therefore, I reasoned that study of the cell cycle responsible for the reproduction of cells was important and might even be illuminating about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/therefore-i-reasoned-that-study-of-the-cell-cycle-responsible-for-the/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My main efforts focussed on trying to identify the rate controlling steps during the cell cycle. Crucial for this analysis were wee mutants that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-main-efforts-focussed-on-trying-to-identify-the-rate-controlling/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [This time at Birmingham turned me into a general biologist, and ever since then I have always tried to take a biological approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/this-time-at-birmingham-turned-me-into-a-general-biologist-and-ever/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [After an extensive interview he arranged for my weaknesses in foreign languages to be over-looked and so I started a Biology degree at Birmingham…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/after-an-extensive-interview-he-arranged-for-my-weaknesses-in-foreign/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I had a great time investigating the pigments of different mutant fruit flies by following experimental protocols published in Scientific American, and I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-had-a-great-time-investigating-the-pigments-of-different-mutant/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [I have an idealistic view of science as a liberalising and progressive force for humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/i-have-an-idealistic-view-of-science-as-a-liberalising-and/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [My parents were neither wealthy nor academic, but we lived comfortably and they were always extremely supportive of my academic efforts and aspirations, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/my-parents-were-neither-wealthy-nor-academic-but-we-lived-comfortably/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) > [This possibility bothered me as I thought it was not advisable to remain in one academic environment, and the long dark winters in Edinburgh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nurse/this-possibility-bothered-me-as-i-thought-it-was-not-advisable-to/) [Paul Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) [Explore all 27 Paul Nurse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nurse/) ## More Helping quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. 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