Fire Quote by Richard Dawkins
“What lies at the heart of every living thing is not a fire, not warm breath, not a 'spark of life.' It is information, words, instructions... If you want to understand life, don't think about vibrant, throbbing gels and oozes, think about information technology.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Del, 1998
Life is fundamentally information—genes, instructions, and data—rather than mere physical processes.
In simple terms: Life is about information.
Key Takeaway
Study the informational basis of biology.
Themes
information
biology
technology
evolution
Mood
analytical
thought‑provoking
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- AI bioinformatics
- education
Key Concepts
Genetics
bioinformatics
systems theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing life as data change your perspective?
- What ethical issues arise from this view?
A Different Perspective
Complexity of life may not be fully captured by info alone.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
