--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To declare war on ninety-nine percent of…" description: "\"To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when less than percent of them threaten our health makes no sense. Many of the bacteria we're killing..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg" --- # To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when… ![“To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when less than percent of them threaten our health makes no sense. Many of the bacteria we're killing are our protectors.” quote by Sandor Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg) > “To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when less than percent of them threaten our health makes no sense. Many of the bacteria we're killing are our protectors.” Sandor Katz ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Targeting the majority of harmless or beneficial bacteria with broad-spectrum antibiotics is illogical, as many microbes protect health, and indiscriminate killing can disrupt ecosystems and foster resistance. **In simple terms:** Killing most bacteria is unnecessary and harmful. Key Takeaway Use targeted antimicrobial strategies. Themes health microbiology antibiotics ecosystem Mood cautious thoughtful Type scientific ethical When to use this quote - clinical practice - food safety - environmental management - research development Key Concepts microbial balance resistance targeted therapy public health Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives exist to broad-spectrum antibiotics? - How can we preserve beneficial microbes? A Different Perspective Overuse of broad antibiotics can cause resistance and ecological harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bacteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Protector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protector/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Okay, but what about microbial disease? “To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when less than one percent of them threaten our health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/okay-but-what-about-microbial-disease-to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“As even the Pentagon, a cautious bastion of technological nonpartisanship, concluded, “the danger from climate change is real, urgent, and severe.” An official U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/as-even-the-pentagon-a-cautious-bastion-of-technological/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [“No one knows the number of bacterial species. About 5,000 species have been characterized and another 10,000 have been partially identified. Biodiversity authority Edward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-e-maczulak/no-one-knows-the-number-of-bacterial-species-about-5-000-species-have/) [Anne E. Maczulak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-e-maczulak/) > [No one has the right to threaten the health, education, and well-being of children by involving them in illegal or inappropriate work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-solis/no-one-has-the-right-to-threaten-the-health-education-and-well-being/) [Hilda Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-solis/) > [“The problem with killing 99.9 percent of bacteria is that most of them protect us from the few that can make us sick.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-ellix-katz/the-problem-with-killing-99-9-percent-of-bacteria-is-that-most-of/) [Sandor Ellix Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandor-ellix-katz/) > [All across the Middle East in the streets, people are demanding democracy. It's amazing. The only way in America you get people to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/all-across-the-middle-east-in-the-streets-people-are-demanding/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/none-of-my-inventions-came-by-accident-i-see-a-worthwhile-need-to-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [SAUCE, n. The one infallible sign of civilization and enlightenment. A people with no sauces has one thousand vices; a people with one sauce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/sauce-n-the-one-infallible-sign-of-civilization-and-enlightenment-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [In science, probably ninety-nine percent of the knowable has to be discovered. We know only a few streaks about astronomy. We are only beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/in-science-probably-ninety-nine-percent-of-the-knowable-has-to-be/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Ninety-nine one-hundredths of our lives we are mere hedgers and ditchers, but from time to time we meet with reminders of our destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/ninety-nine-one-hundredths-of-our-lives-we-are-mere-hedgers-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The best picture has not yet been painted; the greatest poem is still unsung; the mightiest novel remains to be written; the divinest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-best-picture-has-not-yet-been-painted-the-greatest-poem-is-still/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I had thought that growing up's consolation was that you could escape from the arbitrariness of things, that somehow one acquired more control. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-galloway/i-had-thought-that-growing-up-s-consolation-was-that-you-could-escape/) [Janice Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-galloway/) > [Winning a competition in architecture is a ticket to oblivion. It's just an idea. Ninety-nine per cent never get built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-libeskind/winning-a-competition-in-architecture-is-a-ticket-to-oblivion-it-s/) [Daniel Libeskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-libeskind/) > [Ninety nine per cent of the time, for anyone who wins or makes money, it makes them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/ninety-nine-per-cent-of-the-time-for-anyone-who-wins-or-makes-money/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) ## More by Sandor Katz > [Since we're living with antibiotic drugs and chlorinated water and antibacterial soap and all these factors in our contemporary lives that I'd group together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/since-we-re-living-with-antibiotic-drugs-and-chlorinated-water-and/) Sandor Katz > [We reject certain food because it is rotten. Certain food we can see is fresh. But there is this creative space between fresh food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/we-reject-certain-food-because-it-is-rotten-certain-food-we-can-see/) Sandor Katz > [Wild foods, microbial cultures included, possess a great, unmediated life force, which can help us adapt to shifting conditions and lower our susceptibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/wild-foods-microbial-cultures-included-possess-a-great-unmediated/) Sandor Katz Explore all 4 Sandor Katz quotes ## More Bacteria quotes > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [...The large majority of those infectious microbes that cause us so much illness and pain are ANAEROBIC...a big word that means they live and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccabe/the-large-majority-of-those-infectious-microbes-that-cause-us-so-much/) [Ed McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccabe/) > [You can't just boss bacteria around like that," said the younger Mrs. Hempstock. "They don't like it." "Stuff and silliness," said the old lady.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-t-just-boss-bacteria-around-like-that-said-the-younger-mrs/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are more microbes per person than the entire population of the world. Imagine that. Per person. This means that if the time scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/there-are-more-microbes-per-person-than-the-entire-population-of-the/) [Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/) > [“Drinking lots of alcohol makes the gut leakier, allowing microbes to more readily influence the brain. Could that help to explain why alcoholics often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-yong/drinking-lots-of-alcohol-makes-the-gut-leakier-allowing-microbes-to/) [Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) > [“According to pioneering microbiologist Lynn Margulis, "fully 10 percent of our own dry body weight consists of bacteria, some of which, although they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-bjornerud/according-to-pioneering-microbiologist-lynn-margulis-fully-10-percent/) Marcia Bjornerud > [Plants with leaves no more efficient than today's solar cells could out-compete real plants, crowding the biosphere with an inedible foliage. Tough omnivorous bacteria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-eric-drexler/plants-with-leaves-no-more-efficient-than-today-s-solar-cells-could/) [K. Eric Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-eric-drexler/) > [Nineteen hundred and three will bring great advances in surgery, in the study of bacteria, in the knowledge of the cause and prevention of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/nineteen-hundred-and-three-will-bring-great-advances-in-surgery-in/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Most people are surprised when they hear my somber figures: we know of 2 million species of plants, animals and microorganisms, and we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/most-people-are-surprised-when-they-hear-my-somber-figures-we-know-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Harmful bacteria, viruses, calcium-forming micro-organisms, and candida are part of our world. Unfortunately, so are toxic chemicals, including everything from pesticides to car pollution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/harmful-bacteria-viruses-calcium-forming-micro-organisms-and-candida/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [With one linear centimeter of your lower colon there lives and works more bacteria (about 100 billion) that all humans who have ever been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/with-one-linear-centimeter-of-your-lower-colon-there-lives-and-works/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Eighty-five percent of recorded species live in the terrestrial realm, and the majority of these, some 850,000, are arthropods (that is, insects, spiders, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-leakey/eighty-five-percent-of-recorded-species-live-in-the-terrestrial-realm/) Richard E. Leakey > [As far as I am concerned, LGBT can only stand for leprosy, gonorrhea, bacteria, and tuberculosis, all of which are detrimental to human existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-jammeh/as-far-as-i-am-concerned-lgbt-can-only-stand-for-leprosy-gonorrhea/) [Yahya Jammeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-jammeh/) > [There are about 250,000 different species of fossil plants and animals known . . In spite of this large quantity of information, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-raup/there-are-about-250-000-different-species-of-fossil-plants-and/) [David M. Raup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-raup/) > [Human health should now be thought of as a collective property of the human-associate d microbiota, as one group of researchers recently concluded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/human-health-should-now-be-thought-of-as-a-collective-property-of-the/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) [Browse all 285 Bacteria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when less than percent of them threaten our health makes no sense. Many of the bacteria we're killing are our protectors.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sandor Katz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of-bacteria-when-less-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bacteria" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of-bacteria-when-less-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/974/sandor-katz-69418_bacteria_to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of_2302193.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To declare war on ninety-nine percent of bacteria when less than percent of them threaten our health makes…” — Sandor Katz", "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": "Sandor Katz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandor-katz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To declare war on ninety-nine percent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of-bacteria-when-less-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-katz/to-declare-war-on-ninety-nine-percent-of-bacteria-when-less-than/#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 } } ] } ```