--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am willing to believe that my…" description: "\"I am willing to believe that my unobtainable sixty seconds within a sponge or a flatworm might not reveal any mental acuity that I would care to call c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephen-jay-gould-885_affinity_i-am-willing-to-believe-that-my-unobtain_1904997.jpg" --- # I am willing to believe that my unobtainable sixty seconds… ![“I am willing to believe that my unobtainable sixty seconds within a sponge or a flatworm might not reveal any mental acuity that I would care to call consciousness. But I am also confident [...] that vultures and sloths, as close evolutionary relatives with the same basic set of organs, lie on our…” quote by Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephen-jay-gould-885_affinity_i-am-willing-to-believe-that-my-unobtain_1904997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephen-jay-gould-885_affinity_i-am-willing-to-believe-that-my-unobtain_1904997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephen-jay-gould-885_affinity_i-am-willing-to-believe-that-my-unobtain_1904997.jpg) > “I am willing to believe that my unobtainable sixty seconds within a sponge or a flatworm might not reveal any mental acuity that I would care to call consciousness. But I am also confident \[...\] that vultures and sloths, as close evolutionary relatives with the same basic set of organs, lie on our side of any meaningful (and necessarily fuzzy) border and that we are therefore not mistaken when we look them in the eye and see a glimmer of emotional and conceptual affinity.” [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consciousness may be shared with simple organisms, suggesting a fuzzy boundary between mind and animal life. **In simple terms:** Even simple creatures may share aspects of consciousness. Key Takeaway Explore empathy toward all living beings. Themes consciousness evolution animal cognition philosophy of mind affinity Mood inquisitive empathetic intellectual Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - animal welfare - education - scientific research - public outreach Key Concepts biology neuroscience ethics comparative psychology Questions to Reflect On - What criteria should define consciousness? - How does this view affect our treatment of animals? A Different Perspective Defining consciousness remains controversial and subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affinity/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Organs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organs/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/) ## Related quotes > [Mental acuity of any kind comes from solving problems yourself, not from being told how to solve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/mental-acuity-of-any-kind-comes-from-solving-problems-yourself-not/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [Mental acuity was never born from comfortable circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/mental-acuity-was-never-born-from-comfortable-circumstances/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Despicable creatures, vultures: without a doubt the most disgusting birds ever. I suppose they served their purpose, but did they have to be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/despicable-creatures-vultures-without-a-doubt-the-most-disgusting/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Siphonophores do not convey the message a favorite theme of unthinking romanticism that nature is but one gigantic whole, all its parts intimately connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/siphonophores-do-not-convey-the-message-a-favorite-theme-of/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [If you ask my dad for help... he'll help. Like a vulture helps an over-run armadillo on a Texas highway. One peck at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/if-you-ask-my-dad-for-help-he-ll-help-like-a-vulture-helps-an-over/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [Sometimes, I must admit, I'd like to have a second guitarist onstage with me, but it wouldn't look right. I'd like to play for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/sometimes-i-must-admit-i-d-like-to-have-a-second-guitarist-onstage/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Do you blame a vulture for perching over a carcass?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-you-blame-a-vulture-for-perching-over-a-carcass/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Someone said to me, "How's your rabbit food?" I said, "Fine." ... "How's your vulture food?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-graham/someone-said-to-me-how-s-your-rabbit-food-i-said-fine-how-s-your/) Doug Graham > [Heart of a vulture Constantly together, But always apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/heart-of-a-vulture-constantly-together-but-always-apart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Author: A common gadabout who freely wanders over the landscape with wanton disregard. His days are spent picking up all the stray free words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-throckmorton/author-a-common-gadabout-who-freely-wanders-over-the-landscape-with/) Leopold Throckmorton > [...most of the press were vultures descending on the scene for curious America aplomb. Cameras inside the coffin interviewing worms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/most-of-the-press-were-vultures-descending-on-the-scene-for-curious/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [In the country the darkness of night is friendly and familiar, but in a city, with its blaze of lights, it is unnatural, hostile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-the-country-the-darkness-of-night-is-friendly-and-familiar-but-in/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If true, the Pythagorean principles as to abstain from flesh, foster innocence; if ill-founded they at least teach us frugality, and what loss have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/if-true-the-pythagorean-principles-as-to-abstain-from-flesh-foster/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Bird taxonomy is a difficult field because of the severe anatomical constraints imposed by flight. There are only so many ways to design a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/bird-taxonomy-is-a-difficult-field-because-of-the-severe-anatomical/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [He groaned slightly and winced like Prometheus watching his vulture dropping in for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-groaned-slightly-and-winced-like-prometheus-watching-his-vulture/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stephen Jay Gould > [I strongly reject any conceptual scheme that places our options on a line, and holds that the only alternative to a pair of extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-strongly-reject-any-conceptual-scheme-that-places-our-options-on-a/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [History employs evolution to structure biological events in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/history-employs-evolution-to-structure-biological-events-in-time/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [In his anti-Darwinian book... (and eponymously named The Neck of the Giraffe ), Francis Hitching tells the story... "The need to survive by reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/in-his-anti-darwinian-book-and-eponymously-named-the-neck-of-the/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [... many folks take them seriously because they just 'know' that evolution can never be seen in the immediate here and now. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/many-folks-take-them-seriously-because-they-just-know-that-evolution/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Charles Darwin viewed the fossil record more as an embarrassment than as an aid to his theory ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/charles-darwin-viewed-the-fossil-record-more-as-an-embarrassment-than/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Zoocentrism is the primary fallacy of human sociobiology, for this view of human behavior rests on the argument that if the actions of "lower"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/zoocentrism-is-the-primary-fallacy-of-human-sociobiology-for-this/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The world, unfortunately, rarely matches our hopes and consistently refuses to behave in a reasonable manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/the-world-unfortunately-rarely-matches-our-hopes-and-consistently/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The true beauty of nature is her amplitude; she exists neither for nor because of us, and possesses a staying power that all our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/the-true-beauty-of-nature-is-her-amplitude-she-exists-neither-for-nor/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [With copious evidence ranging from Plato's haughtiness to Beethoven's tirades, we may conclude that the most brilliant people of history tend to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/with-copious-evidence-ranging-from-plato-s-haughtiness-to-beethoven-s/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [When scientists need to explain difficult points of theory, illustration by hypothetical example - rather than by total abstraction - works well (perhaps indispensably)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/when-scientists-need-to-explain-difficult-points-of-theory/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The truly awesome intellectuals in our history have not merely made discoveries; they have woven variegated, but firm, tapestries of comprehensive coverage. The tapestries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/the-truly-awesome-intellectuals-in-our-history-have-not-merely-made/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [I believe that we can still have a genre of scientific books suitable for and accessible alike to professionals and interested laypeople. The concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-believe-that-we-can-still-have-a-genre-of-scientific-books-suitable/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Science simply cannot adjudicate the issue of God's possible superintendence of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/science-simply-cannot-adjudicate-the-issue-of-god-s-possible/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [But if we laugh with derision, we will never understand. Human intellectual capacity has not altered for thousands of years so far as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/but-if-we-laugh-with-derision-we-will-never-understand-human/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [We debase the richness of both nature and our own minds if we view the great pageant of our intellectual history as a compendium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/we-debase-the-richness-of-both-nature-and-our-own-minds-if-we-view/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) [Explore all 341 Stephen Jay Gould quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) ## More Affinity quotes > [I have an affinity with the Leicester community and want the best for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morrison/i-have-an-affinity-with-the-leicester-community-and-want-the-best-for/) [Mark Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morrison/) > [There certainly is an affinity between a person and his work, but it is not easy to define what this affinity is, and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/there-certainly-is-an-affinity-between-a-person-and-his-work-but-it/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [This formula of Love is universal; all the laws of Nature are its servitors. Thus, gravitation, chemical affinity, electrical potential, and the rest -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-formula-of-love-is-universal-all-the-laws-of-nature-are-its/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Your brain may give birth to any technology, but other brains will decide whether the technology thrives. The number of possible technologies is infinite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/your-brain-may-give-birth-to-any-technology-but-other-brains-will/) [Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/) > [I receive huge support from Irish and British sports fans alike and it is greatly appreciated. Likewise I feel I have a great affinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-receive-huge-support-from-irish-and-british-sports-fans-alike-and/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [Savages have often been likened to children, and the comparison is not only correct but also highly instructive. Many naturalists consider that the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/savages-have-often-been-likened-to-children-and-the-comparison-is-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [My father being in the movie business, I thought being an actor would be great. But when I started singing to people in coffeehouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/my-father-being-in-the-movie-business-i-thought-being-an-actor-would/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [Gay men are perfect men for girls who are tough. They're not threatened by strong women, and they're usually very in touch with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/gay-men-are-perfect-men-for-girls-who-are-tough-they-re-not/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [A man is known by the books he reads, by the company he keeps, by the praise he gives, by his dress, by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-known-by-the-books-he-reads-by-the-company-he-keeps-by-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've got German, Cornish and Scottish ancestry. It might help explain my affinity for forests, the sea, and fatty foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/i-ve-got-german-cornish-and-scottish-ancestry-it-might-help-explain/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [I found myself being more and more involved with people who were rejected by society - with drug addicts, alcoholism, battered this, battered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/i-found-myself-being-more-and-more-involved-with-people-who-were/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [The affinity of blood or pure haemoglobins for oxygen is a complex phenomenon, depending upon a number of conditions, the most important of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-krogh/the-affinity-of-blood-or-pure-haemoglobins-for-oxygen-is-a-complex/) [August Krogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-krogh/) > [Even if you have money, access to MoCap technology, and strong choreographic and computer-animation abilities, don't try to make a film like this if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-epoque/even-if-you-have-money-access-to-mocap-technology-and-strong/) [Martine Epoque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-epoque/) > [Would movie moguls release a film portraying Adolph Hitler as a great benefactor of the Jews? Hardly. Would they release a movie if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-wildmon/would-movie-moguls-release-a-film-portraying-adolph-hitler-as-a-great/) Donald Wildmon > [The profoundest affinities are the most readily felt; they remain a background and standard for all happiness and if we trace them out we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-profoundest-affinities-are-the-most-readily-felt-they-remain-a/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) [Browse all 259 Affinity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affinity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am willing to believe that my unobtainable sixty seconds within a sponge or a flatworm might not reveal any mental acuity that I would care to call consciousness. 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