--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I speak as a private citizen and not as a…" description: "\"I speak as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Executive Branch of the United States government. The impression that people of faith a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/richard-dawkins-115_approach_i-speak-as-a-private-citizen-and-not-as_1035681.jpg" --- # I speak as a private citizen and not as a representative… ![“I speak as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Executive Branch of the United States government. The impression that people of faith are uniformly opposed to stem-cell research is not documented by surveys. In fact, many people of strong religious conviction think this can be a…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/richard-dawkins-115_approach_i-speak-as-a-private-citizen-and-not-as_1035681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/richard-dawkins-115_approach_i-speak-as-a-private-citizen-and-not-as_1035681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ad/richard-dawkins-115_approach_i-speak-as-a-private-citizen-and-not-as_1035681.jpg) > “I speak as a private citizen and not as a representative of the Executive Branch of the United States government. The impression that people of faith are uniformly opposed to stem-cell research is not documented by surveys. In fact, many people of strong religious conviction think this can be a morally supportable approach.” [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. He clarifies he speaks personally, not officially, and notes that religious opposition to stem‑cell research is not universally documented; many faithful support it. **In simple terms:** He speaks as a private citizen and says religious views on stem‑cell research vary. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse religious perspectives on science. Themes science religion ethics Mood thoughtful analytical Type explanatory informative When to use this quote - academic conferences - policy debates - faith community discussions - media interviews Key Concepts public policy bioethics Questions to Reflect On - How do personal beliefs influence public policy? - What evidence exists on religious attitudes toward stem‑cell research? A Different Perspective Religious views are complex and can differ from perceived majority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Cell research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-research/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Executive branch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive-branch/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [State government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-government/) [Stem cell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stem-cell/) [Stem cell research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stem-cell-research/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-government/) ## Related quotes > [We have a lot to gain through furthering stem cell research, but medical breakthroughs should be fundamentally about saving, not destroying, human life. Therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steele/we-have-a-lot-to-gain-through-furthering-stem-cell-research-but/) [Michael Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steele/) > [Most of the scientific community believes that for the full potential of embryonic stem cell research to be reached, the number of cell lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kind/most-of-the-scientific-community-believes-that-for-the-full-potential/) [Ron Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kind/) > [Even if the Bush Administration had flung open the gates to stem-cell research years ago, we would not be at the point of offering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/even-if-the-bush-administration-had-flung-open-the-gates-to-stem-cell/) [Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/) > [Embryonic stem cell research is legal in America, and nothing in the administration's current policy affects that legality; 400 lines are currently being used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wicker/embryonic-stem-cell-research-is-legal-in-america-and-nothing-in-the/) [Roger Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wicker/) > [Without a doubt, stem cell research will lead to the dramatic improvement in the human condition and will benefit millions of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/without-a-doubt-stem-cell-research-will-lead-to-the-dramatic/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [In a prime-time address, President Bush said he backed limited federal funding for stem cell research. That's right, the President said, this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/in-a-prime-time-address-president-bush-said-he-backed-limited-federal/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I urge researchers to make use of the opportunities that are available to them and to do all they can to fulfill the promise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/i-urge-researchers-to-make-use-of-the-opportunities-that-are/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-reagan/countless-people-suffering-from-many-different-diseases-stand-to/) [Nancy Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-reagan/) > [In fact, many nations currently refuse to support embryonic stem cell research of any kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-deal/in-fact-many-nations-currently-refuse-to-support-embryonic-stem-cell/) [Nathan Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-deal/) > [There is just no sensible, logical reason why we would not make use of stem cell research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/there-is-just-no-sensible-logical-reason-why-we-would-not-make-use-of/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act would expand research on embryonic stem cells by increasing the number of lines stem cells that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-israel/the-stem-cell-research-enhancement-act-would-expand-research-on/) [Steve Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-israel/) > [We deeply regret Sen. Frist's endorsement of an embryonic stem cell research policy that would turn living human beings into commodities for exploitation. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stevens/we-deeply-regret-sen-frist-s-endorsement-of-an-embryonic-stem-cell/) David Stevens > [There are many alternatives to embryonic stem cell research, alternatives with great potential. We need to support these and oppose creating life for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-istook/there-are-many-alternatives-to-embryonic-stem-cell-research/) [Ernest Istook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-istook/) > [The best that can be said about embryonic stem cell research is that it is scientific exploration into the potential benefits of killing human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/the-best-that-can-be-said-about-embryonic-stem-cell-research-is-that/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [I would like people to understand the rationale for my embryonic stem cell research decision and how the process became distorted over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-would-like-people-to-understand-the-rationale-for-my-embryonic-stem/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## 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. Because it comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-word-mundane-has-come-to-mean-boring-and-dull-and-it-really/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The fundamentalist Kurt Wise proclaims that all the evidence in the universe would not change his mind. 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 Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [I don't have any particular method, my approach is very simple. I try to understand the emotional graph of the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-gandhi/i-don-t-have-any-particular-method-my-approach-is-very-simple-i-try/) [Pratik Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-gandhi/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. 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