--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though we feel we can choose what we do…" description: "\"Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding of the molecular basis of biology shows that biological processes are governed by the laws o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg" --- # Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding… ![“Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding of the molecular basis of biology shows that biological processes are governed by the laws of physics and chemistry and therefore are as determined as the orbits of the planets.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg) > “Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding of the molecular basis of biology shows that biological processes are governed by the laws of physics and chemistry and therefore are as determined as the orbits of the planets.” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Biology is governed by physical laws, implying determinism similar to planetary orbits. **In simple terms:** Biology follows physics and chemistry. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of free will. Themes determinism science free will Mood analytical thoughtful neutral Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - education - debate - ethical discussions - policy making Key Concepts physics biology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does determinism affect responsibility? - Can we reconcile freedom? A Different Perspective Human agency still matters in choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Biological Processes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biological-processes-4022258/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry/) [Chemistry Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry-determined-4022260/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws of physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-of-physics/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Molecular Basis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/molecular-basis-4022259/) [Orbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orbit/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Processes Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/processes-governed-4022261/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [One does not have to appeal to God to set the initial conditions for the creation of the universe, but if one does He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/one-does-not-have-to-appeal-to-god-to-set-the-initial-conditions-for/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [God is the name people give to the reason we are here. But I think that reason is the laws of physics rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/god-is-the-name-people-give-to-the-reason-we-are-here-but-i-think/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We shouldn't be surprised that conditions in the universe are suitable for life, but this is not evidence that the universe was designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-shouldn-t-be-surprised-that-conditions-in-the-universe-are/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The universe and the Laws of Physics seem to have been specifically designed for us. If any one of about 40 physical qualities had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-universe-and-the-laws-of-physics-seem-to-have-been-specifically/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Bodies like the earth are not made to move on curved orbits by a force called gravity; instead, they follow the nearest thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/bodies-like-the-earth-are-not-made-to-move-on-curved-orbits-by-a/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [One can't prove that God doesn't exist. But science makes God unnecessary. The laws of physics can explain the universe without the need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/one-can-t-prove-that-god-doesn-t-exist-but-science-makes-god/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [In A Brief History Of Time I used the word "God" like Einstein did as a shorthand for the laws of physics. However, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/in-a-brief-history-of-time-i-used-the-word-god-like-einstein-did-as-a/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We could call order by the name of God, but it would be an impersonal God. There's not much personal about the laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-could-call-order-by-the-name-of-god-but-it-would-be-an-impersonal/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The smallest thought could not exist unless the entire universe and the laws of physics were in some way encouraging it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-smallest-thought-could-not-exist-unless-the-entire-universe-and/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [You can have faith in writing itself. That's where to place your faith, in the same way that a pole vaulter places his faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pickard/you-can-have-faith-in-writing-itself-that-s-where-to-place-your-faith/) [Nancy Pickard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pickard/) > [The laws of physics should allow us to arrange things molecule by molecule and even atom by atom, and at some point it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-merkle/the-laws-of-physics-should-allow-us-to-arrange-things-molecule-by/) [Ralph Merkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-merkle/) > [Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the windows of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sokal/anyone-who-believes-that-the-laws-of-physics-are-mere-social/) [Alan Sokal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sokal/) > [“Chapter 2: How could an infinite space get created in a finite time? It sounds impossible. But as I mentioned, inflation is like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/chapter-2-how-could-an-infinite-space-get-created-in-a-finite-time-it/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [Food, like anything else, lives in the physical world and obeys the laws of physics. When you whisk together some oil and a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/food-like-anything-else-lives-in-the-physical-world-and-obeys-the/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [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/) ## More by Stephen Hawking > [The doctor who diagnosed me with ALS, or motor neuron disease, told me that it would kill me in two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-doctor-who-diagnosed-me-with-als-or-motor-neuron-disease-told-me/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We are the product of quantum fluctuations in the very early universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-are-the-product-of-quantum-fluctuations-in-the-very-early-universe/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race does not have a very good record of intelligent behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-does-not-have-a-very-good-record-of-intelligent/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“We have finally found something that doesn’t have a cause, because there was no time for a cause to exist in. For me this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/we-have-finally-found-something-that-doesn-t-have-a-cause-because/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [ \[On President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years\] Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/on-president-bush-s-plan-to-get-to-mars-in-10-years-stupid-robots/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-believe-the-simplest-explanation-is-there-is-no-god-no-one-created/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The Paralympic Games is about transforming our perception of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-paralympic-games-is-about-transforming-our-perception-of-the-world/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The increase of disorder or entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-increase-of-disorder-or-entropy-is-what-distinguishes-the-past/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Most sets of values would give rise to universes that, although they might be very beautiful, would contain no one able to wonder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/most-sets-of-values-would-give-rise-to-universes-that-although-they/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/there-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-religion-which-is-based-on/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“In the eighteenth century, philosophers considered the whole of human knowledge, including science, to be their field and discussed questions such as: Did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/in-the-eighteenth-century-philosophers-considered-the-whole-of-human/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [A model is a good model if first it interprets a wide range of observations in terms of a simple and elegant model, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/a-model-is-a-good-model-if-first-it-interprets-a-wide-range-of/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“Empedocles noticed that if you cover the neck before you immerse it, a clepsydra does not fill. He reasoned that something invisible must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/empedocles-noticed-that-if-you-cover-the-neck-before-you-immerse-it-a/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet. Let's hope we can avoid dropping the basket until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-human-race-shouldn-t-have-all-its-eggs-in-one-basket-or-on-one/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I hope I have helped to raise the profile of science and to show that physics is not a mystery but can be understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-hope-i-have-helped-to-raise-the-profile-of-science-and-to-show-that/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) [Explore all 601 Stephen Hawking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [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/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) [Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding of the molecular basis of biology shows that biological processes are governed by the laws of physics and chemistry and therefore are as determined as the orbits of the planets.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Hawking" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do-our-understanding-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do-our-understanding-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/stephen-hawking-389_bases_though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do_2885478.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Though we feel we can choose what we do, our understanding of the molecular basis of biology shows that…” — Stephen Hawking", "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": "Stephen Hawking", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Though we feel we can choose...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do-our-understanding-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/though-we-feel-we-can-choose-what-we-do-our-understanding-of-the/#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 } } ] } ```