--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you found a mammal with feathers, then…" description: "\"If you found a mammal with feathers, then you'd know that Darwin was wrong. Well, it's rather the same with memes.\" — Susan Blackmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/susan-blackmore-24318_feathers_if-you-found-a-mammal-with-feathers-then_2396665.jpg" --- # If you found a mammal with feathers, then you'd know that… ![“If you found a mammal with feathers, then you'd know that Darwin was wrong. Well, it's rather the same with memes.” quote by Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/susan-blackmore-24318_feathers_if-you-found-a-mammal-with-feathers-then_2396665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/susan-blackmore-24318_feathers_if-you-found-a-mammal-with-feathers-then_2396665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/susan-blackmore-24318_feathers_if-you-found-a-mammal-with-feathers-then_2396665.jpg) > “If you found a mammal with feathers, then you'd know that Darwin was wrong. Well, it's rather the same with memes.” [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding a feathered mammal would challenge Darwin’s theory, just as memes challenge cultural evolution, showing how unexpected evidence can overturn established ideas. **In simple terms:** Unexpected evidence can overturn theories. Key Takeaway Stay open to new data that challenges assumptions. Themes science skepticism culture Mood curious critical Type philosophical informative When to use this quote - academic research - public discourse - education - media analysis Key Concepts evolution memetics Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would you need to revise a core belief? - How do memes shape your understanding of science? A Different Perspective Memes may oversimplify complex ideas, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mammals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mammals/) [Memes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memes/) ## Related quotes > [There were four million people in the American Colonies and we had Jefferson and Franklin. Now we have over 200 million and the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/there-were-four-million-people-in-the-american-colonies-and-we-had/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Darwin was wrong. Man's still an ape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-lawrence/darwin-was-wrong-man-s-still-an-ape/) [Jerome Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-lawrence/) > [Certainly almost everything we do and think is colored in some way by memes, but it is important to realize that not everything we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/certainly-almost-everything-we-do-and-think-is-colored-in-some-way-by/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [ 'Temes' \[technology-enhanced memes\] don't care about us - they simply want to create more of themselves. Don't think we created the internet for our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/temes-technology-enhanced-memes-don-t-care-about-us-they-simply-want/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Consciousness is an illusion constructed by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/consciousness-is-an-illusion-constructed-by-the-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [All other species on this planet are gene machines only. They don't imitate at all well; we alone are gene machines and meme machines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/all-other-species-on-this-planet-are-gene-machines-only-they-don-t/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Imagine a world full of brains, and far more memes than can possibly find homes. Which memes are more likely to find a safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/imagine-a-world-full-of-brains-and-far-more-memes-than-can-possibly/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [If everyone understood evolution, then the tyranny of religious memes would be weakened, and we little humans might find a better way to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/if-everyone-understood-evolution-then-the-tyranny-of-religious-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Free will and consciousness is an illusion, and the self is a complex of memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/free-will-and-consciousness-is-an-illusion-and-the-self-is-a-complex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [The sale of sex in modern societies is not about spreading genes. Sex has been taken over by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/the-sale-of-sex-in-modern-societies-is-not-about-spreading-genes-sex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [You start by copying other people's paintings or music or whatever. You get all of those skills before you branch out. Really creative people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/you-start-by-copying-other-people-s-paintings-or-music-or-whatever/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they think about memes is they try to extend on the analogy with genes. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-that-people-make-when-they-think-about/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [ We're \[also\] trying to talk to a generation who grew up on the Internet. They're digital natives, and, essentially, they speak through sequential storytelling.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-aydin/we-re-also-trying-to-talk-to-a-generation-who-grew-up-on-the-internet/) [Andrew Aydin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-aydin/) > [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [All religious vows, codes, and commitments are null & void herein. Please refrain from contaminating the ideosphere with harmful memes through prayer, reverence, holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-erwin/all-religious-vows-codes-and-commitments-are-null-void-herein-please/) Greg Erwin ## More by Susan Blackmore > [For the planet's sake, I hope we have bird flu or some other thing that will reduce the population, because otherwise we're doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/for-the-planet-s-sake-i-hope-we-have-bird-flu-or-some-other-thing/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Just as the design of our bodies can be understood only in terms of natural selection, so the design of our minds can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/just-as-the-design-of-our-bodies-can-be-understood-only-in-terms-of/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they think about memes is they try to extend on the analogy with genes. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-that-people-make-when-they-think-about/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [You start by copying other people's paintings or music or whatever. You get all of those skills before you branch out. Really creative people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/you-start-by-copying-other-people-s-paintings-or-music-or-whatever/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Take male strategies for success in the world. If you've got all the advantages, if you're attractive and clever and all of that, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/take-male-strategies-for-success-in-the-world-if-you-ve-got-all-the/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [The sale of sex in modern societies is not about spreading genes. Sex has been taken over by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/the-sale-of-sex-in-modern-societies-is-not-about-spreading-genes-sex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [In proportion to our body mass, our brain is three times as large as that of our nearest relatives. This huge organ is dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/in-proportion-to-our-body-mass-our-brain-is-three-times-as-large-as/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Free will and consciousness is an illusion, and the self is a complex of memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/free-will-and-consciousness-is-an-illusion-and-the-self-is-a-complex/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [If everyone understood evolution, then the tyranny of religious memes would be weakened, and we little humans might find a better way to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/if-everyone-understood-evolution-then-the-tyranny-of-religious-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Finally, we might decide that civilisation itself is worth preserving. In that case we have to work out what to save and which people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/finally-we-might-decide-that-civilisation-itself-is-worth-preserving/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Imagine a world full of brains, and far more memes than can possibly find homes. Which memes are more likely to find a safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/imagine-a-world-full-of-brains-and-far-more-memes-than-can-possibly/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [All other species on this planet are gene machines only. They don't imitate at all well; we alone are gene machines and meme machines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/all-other-species-on-this-planet-are-gene-machines-only-they-don-t/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [“What happens when an animal or person dies? Something seems to have departed--something like a vital spark that makes the difference between life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/what-happens-when-an-animal-or-person-dies-something-seems-to-have/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [I have not come up with anything original. It needs a better brain than mine! I have done what I can do in taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/i-have-not-come-up-with-anything-original-it-needs-a-better-brain/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Consciousness is an illusion constructed by the memes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/consciousness-is-an-illusion-constructed-by-the-memes/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) [Explore all 24 Susan Blackmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) ## More Feathers quotes > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [Stefan: "Indian with a dot, not a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stefan-indian-with-a-dot-not-a-feather/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/just-erotic-nothing-kinky-it-s-the-difference-between-using-a-feather/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/now-i-m-free-of-him-and-i-m-light-as-a-feather-there-s-no-weight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I often say if men were meant to fly we would have been born with either feathers and wings or at the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zakour/i-often-say-if-men-were-meant-to-fly-we-would-have-been-born-with/) [John Zakour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zakour/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [“Featherweight by Suzy Kassem One evening, I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny. I revealed to it that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/featherweight-by-suzy-kassem-one-evening-i-sat-by-the-ocean-and/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Birds, unlike us, lack countenance. But they make us smile when they connecting the sky with their dazzling feathers. They amaze us with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ligori/birds-unlike-us-lack-countenance-but-they-make-us-smile-when-they/) Susan Ligori > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [...wings—-vast shimmering wings, their reach so great they swept the walls on either side of the alley, each feather like the wind-tugged lick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/wings-vast-shimmering-wings-their-reach-so-great-they-swept-the-walls/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Erotica is using a feather; pornograpy is using the whole chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/erotica-is-using-a-feather-pornograpy-is-using-the-whole-chicken/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) Browse all 605 Feathers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you found a mammal with feathers, then you'd know that Darwin was wrong. 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