--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I…" description: "\"I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I think Darwinism is too big a theory to be confined to the narrow context of the gene.\" — Richard Dawkins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg" --- # I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I think Darwinism is… ![“I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I think Darwinism is too big a theory to be confined to the narrow context of the gene.” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg) > “I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I think Darwinism is too big a theory to be confined to the narrow context of the gene.” [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Darwinian theory extends beyond genes, encompassing broader evolutionary processes and systems. **In simple terms:** Evolutionary ideas apply beyond genetics. Key Takeaway Consider evolution at many levels. Themes evolution science theory complexity Mood analytical curious Type scientific explanatory When to use this quote - Environmental policy - technology development - cultural evolution Key Concepts Systems biology memetics philosophy of science Questions to Reflect On - How does this broader view affect your work? - What are limits of applying Darwinism? A Different Perspective Over‑generalizing can dilute scientific precision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darwinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinism/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think Darwinism as a theory explaining evolution within species is incredibly brilliant - just unbelievably, incredibly brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stein/i-think-darwinism-as-a-theory-explaining-evolution-within-species-is/) [Ben Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stein/) > [Let us understand Darwinism so we can walk in the opposite direction when it comes to setting up society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-darwinism-so-we-can-walk-in-the-opposite-direction/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Darwinism is not a theory of random chance. It is a theory of random mutation plus non-random cumulative natural selection. . . . Natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/darwinism-is-not-a-theory-of-random-chance-it-is-a-theory-of-random-2/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Darwinism is not a theory of random chance. It is a theory of random mutation plus non-random cumulative natural selection. Why, I wonder, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/darwinism-is-not-a-theory-of-random-chance-it-is-a-theory-of-random/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We can now assert with confidence that the theory that the Earth moves round the Sun not only is right for our time but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-can-now-assert-with-confidence-that-the-theory-that-the-earth/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is almost as if the human brain were specifically designed to misunderstand Darwinism, and to find it hard to believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-is-almost-as-if-the-human-brain-were-specifically-designed-to/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is grindingly, creakingly, crashingly obvious that if Darwinism was really a theory of chance, it could not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-is-grindingly-creakingly-crashingly-obvious-that-if-darwinism-was/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [There's nothing nonsensical about saying that what would evolve if Darwinian selection has its head is something that you don't want to happen. 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It is not something to guide our lives in our own society. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/evolution-by-natural-selection-is-the-explanation-for-why-we-exist-it/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“If Darwinists are opposed to mentioning scientific problems with their view, you would think they would be even more opposed to mentioning intelligent design.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-wells/if-darwinists-are-opposed-to-mentioning-scientific-problems-with/) [Jonathan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-wells/) > [“The most essential prediction of Darwinism is that, given an astronomical number of chances, unintelligent processes can make seemingly-designed systems, ones of the complexity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-behe/the-most-essential-prediction-of-darwinism-is-that-given-an/) [Michael J. Behe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-behe/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) ## More by Richard Dawkins > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. 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The true scientist, however passionately he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-fundamentalist-kurt-wise-proclaims-that-all-the-evidence-in-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/religions-do-make-claims-about-the-universe-the-same-kinds-of-claims/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“much of the Bible is not systematically evil but just plain weird, as you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/much-of-the-bible-is-not-systematically-evil-but-just-plain-weird-as/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The Roman Catholic Church is an institution for whose gains the phrase "ill-gotten" might have been specially invented. And of all its money-making rip-offs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-roman-catholic-church-is-an-institution-for-whose-gains-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/let-us-understand-what-our-own-selfish-genes-are-up-to-because-we-may/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [What's going to happen when I die? I may be buried, or I may be cremated, I may give my body to science. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-s-going-to-happen-when-i-die-i-may-be-buried-or-i-may-be/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We have seen that living things are too improbable and too beautifully 'designed' to have come into existence by chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-have-seen-that-living-things-are-too-improbable-and-too/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We will not go quietly away. If in the future that requires violence”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-will-not-go-quietly-away-if-in-the-future-that-requires-violence/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It's a truly disgusting idea that the creator of the universe - capable of inventing the laws of physics and designing the evolutionary process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/it-s-a-truly-disgusting-idea-that-the-creator-of-the-universe-capable/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Explore all 1,239 Richard Dawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I think Darwinism is too big a theory to be confined to the narrow context of the gene.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Dawkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-think-darwinism-is-too-big-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-think-darwinism-is-too-big-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/feb/richard-dawkins-115_bigs_i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-thi_2884920.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but I think Darwinism is too big a theory to be confined to the narrow…” — Richard Dawkins", "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": "Richard Dawkins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am an enthusiastic Darwinian, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-think-darwinism-is-too-big-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-am-an-enthusiastic-darwinian-but-i-think-darwinism-is-too-big-a/#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 } } ] } ```