--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intelligence is the ability of a species…" description: "\"Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in harmony with its environment.\" — Paul Watson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg" --- # Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in… ![“Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in harmony with its environment.” quote by Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg) > “Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in harmony with its environment.” [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intelligence is measured by a species' capacity to coexist sustainably with its environment. **In simple terms:** Intelligence = harmonious living with environment. Key Takeaway Promote sustainable practices for long‑term survival. Themes environment sustainability intelligence ecology adaptation Mood concerned hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - conservation - urban planning - education - policy making Key Concepts ecosystem balance species resilience ethical stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve ecological harmony? - What actions reflect true intelligence? A Different Perspective Human activity often disrupts ecological balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Is The Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-is-the-ability/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Intelligence is the ability to find and solve problems and create products of value in one's own culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/intelligence-is-the-ability-to-find-and-solve-problems-and-create/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [“Intelligence requires first the gift of curiosity.  Without curiosity, who would ask questions?  Second, intelligence is the ability to synthesize.  Facts alone signify little. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ki-longfellow/intelligence-requires-first-the-gift-of-curiosity-without-curiosity/) [Ki Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ki-longfellow/) > [“F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lucas/f-scott-fitzgerald-said-the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the/) [Peter Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lucas/) > [F. Scott Fitzgerald has an indespensible quote: 'The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/f-scott-fitzgerald-has-an-indespensible-quote-the-test-of-a-first/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-6/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-5/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Intelligence is the ability to solve problems, whereas consciousness is the ability to feel things such as pain, joy, love, and anger. Throughout history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/intelligence-is-the-ability-to-solve-problems-whereas-consciousness/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Language is one of the fundamental principles of human understanding. It is the way we interact with each other and how we grasp the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/language-is-one-of-the-fundamental-principles-of-human-understanding/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [“Scott Fitzgerald famously declared that “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scott-fitzgerald-famously-declared-that-the-test-of-a-first-rate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-4/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-duffy/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-3/) Maurice Duffy > [“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-t-kiyosaki/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two-2/) [Robert T. Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-t-kiyosaki/) > [Intelligence is the ability of finding an answer while wisdom is the quality of having the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/intelligence-is-the-ability-of-finding-an-answer-while-wisdom-is-the/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-test-of-a-first-rate-intelligence-is-the-ability-to-hold-two/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/intelligence-is-the-ability-to-adapt-to-change/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## More by Paul Watson > [Social change comes through people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/social-change-comes-through-people/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [Sea Shepherd is to terrorism what Groucho was to Marxism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/sea-shepherd-is-to-terrorism-what-groucho-was-to-marxism/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [You don't get anywhere unless you've had a little bit of a complicated life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/you-don-t-get-anywhere-unless-you-ve-had-a-little-bit-of-a/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [Here's the thing: Nobody gets extradited for a crime where nobody's been hurt, where no property's been damaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/here-s-the-thing-nobody-gets-extradited-for-a-crime-where-nobody-s/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [The shark is the apex predator in the sea. Sharks have molded evolution for 450 million years. All fish species that are prey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/the-shark-is-the-apex-predator-in-the-sea-sharks-have-molded/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [We are literally eating the oceans alive and there are simply not enough fish to continue to feed an ever expanding population of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/we-are-literally-eating-the-oceans-alive-and-there-are-simply-not/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I want to stay in the ocean. I'm not going to be able to do that from some holding cell in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-want-to-stay-in-the-ocean-i-m-not-going-to-be-able-to-do-that-from/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [It is true that many of the Sea Shepherd crewmembers are inexperienced, but the fact is that these volunteers bring a passion to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/it-is-true-that-many-of-the-sea-shepherd-crewmembers-are/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [We have intelligent species on our planet that we are not even trying to communicate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/we-have-intelligent-species-on-our-planet-that-we-are-not-even-trying/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I don't think you really have to retire from what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-don-t-think-you-really-have-to-retire-from-what-you-do/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [If you want to know where you would have stood on slavery before the Civil War, don’t look at where you stand on slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/if-you-want-to-know-where-you-would-have-stood-on-slavery-before-the/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [People sometimes feel frustrated about what's going on in our oceans and environment, and 'Whale Wars' shows that ordinary people can take action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/people-sometimes-feel-frustrated-about-what-s-going-on-in-our-oceans/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [The only language that the Japanese whaling industry understands is economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/the-only-language-that-the-japanese-whaling-industry-understands-is/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I'm not pessimistic about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-m-not-pessimistic-about-anything/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I don't eat fish because there is no such thing as sustainable fishing in the world right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-don-t-eat-fish-because-there-is-no-such-thing-as-sustainable/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) [Explore all 203 Paul Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [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/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in harmony with its environment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Watson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species-to-live-in-harmony-with-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species-to-live-in-harmony-with-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/paul-watson-1855_ability_intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species_2203825.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Intelligence is the ability of a species to live in harmony with its environment.” — Paul Watson", "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": "Paul Watson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Intelligence is the ability of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species-to-live-in-harmony-with-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/intelligence-is-the-ability-of-a-species-to-live-in-harmony-with-its/#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 } } ] } ```