--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People who criticize The Selfish Gene…" description: "\"People who criticize The Selfish Gene like that often haven't read it. The selfish gene accounts for altruism toward kin and individuals who might be i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/richard-dawkins-115_accounts_people-who-criticize-the-selfish-gene-li_2495947.jpg" --- # People who criticize The Selfish Gene like that often… ![“People who criticize The Selfish Gene like that often haven't read it. The selfish gene accounts for altruism toward kin and individuals who might be in a position to reciprocate your altruism.” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/richard-dawkins-115_accounts_people-who-criticize-the-selfish-gene-li_2495947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/richard-dawkins-115_accounts_people-who-criticize-the-selfish-gene-li_2495947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed2/richard-dawkins-115_accounts_people-who-criticize-the-selfish-gene-li_2495947.jpg) > “People who criticize The Selfish Gene like that often haven't read it. The selfish gene accounts for altruism toward kin and individuals who might be in a position to reciprocate your altruism.” [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. The quote argues that critics often lack familiarity, and the gene-centered view explains altruism toward relatives and reciprocal partners. **In simple terms:** Critics may not have read the book; it explains kin altruism. Key Takeaway Read the source before judging. Themes science evolution altruism Mood analytical critical Type scientific educational When to use this quote - academic debate - reading groups - science education Key Concepts gene-centered theory reciprocity kin selection Questions to Reflect On - Do you evaluate ideas before forming opinions? - How does understanding genetics affect moral views? A Different Perspective The argument may oversimplify complex social behaviors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Altruism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) [Altruism Kin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism-kin-1012590/) [Criticize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize/) [Criticize Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticize-selfish-1012591/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genes/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Reciprocate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reciprocate/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish gene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-gene/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [We have the power to defy the selfish genes of our birth and, if necessary, the selfish memes of our indoctrination. 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They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/they-are-in-you-and-me-they-created-us-body-and-mind-and-their/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [We are built as gene machines and cultured as meme machines, but we have the power to turn against our creators. 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Copulation in nature tends to lead to reproduction and so to more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/most-people-understand-that-sexual-lust-has-to-do-with-propagating/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Selfish-gene theory tells us nothing about the value of interacting through language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/selfish-gene-theory-tells-us-nothing-about-the-value-of-interacting/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Faith is powerful enough to immunize people against all appeals to pity, to forgiveness, to decent human feelings. 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I think that's one of my worst titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-don-t-actually-think-the-selfish-gene-is-a-very-good-title-i-think/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ “A foreign publisher of my first book \[ The Selfish Gene \] confessed that he could not sleep for three nights after reading it,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/a-foreign-publisher-of-my-first-book-the-selfish-gene-confessed-that/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) ## More by Richard Dawkins > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. 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