--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Biologists invent the contraceptive pill…" description: "\"“Biologists invent the contraceptive pill – and the Pope doesn’t know what to do about it. Computer scientists develop the Internet – and rabbis argue ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/yuval-noah-harari-100_internet_biologists-invent-the-contraceptive-pill_1895239.jpg" --- # Biologists invent the contraceptive pill – and the Pope… ![“Biologists invent the contraceptive pill – and the Pope doesn’t know what to do about it. Computer scientists develop the Internet – and rabbis argue whether orthodox Jews should be allowed to surf it. Feminist thinkers call upon women to take possession of their bodies – and learned muftis debate…” quote by Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/yuval-noah-harari-100_internet_biologists-invent-the-contraceptive-pill_1895239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/yuval-noah-harari-100_internet_biologists-invent-the-contraceptive-pill_1895239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df9/yuval-noah-harari-100_internet_biologists-invent-the-contraceptive-pill_1895239.jpg) > ““Biologists invent the contraceptive pill – and the Pope doesn’t know what to do about it. Computer scientists develop the Internet – and rabbis argue whether orthodox Jews should be allowed to surf it. Feminist thinkers call upon women to take possession of their bodies – and learned muftis debate how to confront such incendiary ideas.”” [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advances in science and tech clash with religious authority, creating tension over moral control and bodily autonomy. **In simple terms:** Science challenges religious rules. Key Takeaway Engage in open dialogue between faith and science. Themes religion science ethics technology authority Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical controversial When to use this quote - church meetings - science forums - policy debates - educational curricula - media commentary Key Concepts moral autonomy cultural conflict public policy bioethics Questions to Reflect On - How can faith communities adapt to new tech? - What ethical frameworks guide bodily autonomy? A Different Perspective Religious views evolve slowly; change may be resisted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contraceptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contraceptive/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Some of the most patriarchal thinkers I know are women. Some of the most feminist thinkers are men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/some-of-the-most-patriarchal-thinkers-i-know-are-women-some-of-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [When I was a baby feminist, leading feminist thinkers were insisting that if women ran the world, there would be no sadism or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/when-i-was-a-baby-feminist-leading-feminist-thinkers-were-insisting/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [Contraceptive methods are like putting a premium on vice. It makes men and women reckless... As it is, man has sufficiently degraded woman for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/contraceptive-methods-are-like-putting-a-premium-on-vice-it-makes-men/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“He suggests that contraceptive substances be added to basic foods… Should a couple wish to have a child, they'd go to special stores to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/he-suggests-that-contraceptive-substances-be-added-to-basic-foods/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [She asked me what type of contraceptive I use. Underwear. Keeping it on prevents pregnancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/she-asked-me-what-type-of-contraceptive-i-use-underwear-keeping-it-on/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Millions of deaths would not have happened if it weren’t for the consumption of alcohol. The same can be said about millions of births.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-deaths-would-not-have-happened-if-it-weren-t-for-the/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [And we can't discharge that moral responsibility by passing out contraceptives. Contraceptives have been circulating all over Uganda, and it is not clear how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-rivers/and-we-can-t-discharge-that-moral-responsibility-by-passing-out/) Eugene Rivers > [The most effective contraceptive will not start off use as directed so expect the unexpected you chose now accepted it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franko/the-most-effective-contraceptive-will-not-start-off-use-as-directed/) Franko > [Contraceptive protection is something every woman must have access to, to control her own destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/contraceptive-protection-is-something-every-woman-must-have-access-to/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [“A seemingly simple task like taking a bath or wearing a condom feels like multitasking to someone who suffers from hemiplegia or has only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-seemingly-simple-task-like-taking-a-bath-or-wearing-a-condom-feels/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“The assumption that fertility control should be manipulated by authorities without respect for the wishes and dignity of individuals still exists. We see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-assumption-that-fertility-control-should-be-manipulated-by/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“Of course, the methods for human population control are enormously controversial. One contraceptive measure seems to be humane and acceptable: If you teach calculus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/of-course-the-methods-for-human-population-control-are-enormously/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [The greatest contraceptive one can have in the developing world is the knowledge that your children will live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/the-greatest-contraceptive-one-can-have-in-the-developing-world-is/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [The best contraceptive in the world is a good education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joycelyn-elders/the-best-contraceptive-in-the-world-is-a-good-education/) [Joycelyn Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joycelyn-elders/) > [Ugliness is nature's contraceptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-benford/ugliness-is-nature-s-contraceptive/) [Gregory Benford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-benford/) ## More by Yuval Noah Harari > [“For similar reasons, archaic humans did not initiate any revolutions. As far as we can tell, changes in social patterns, the invention of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/for-similar-reasons-archaic-humans-did-not-initiate-any-revolutions/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Today the main source of wealth is knowledge. And whereas you can conquer oil fields through war, you cannot acquire knowledge that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/today-the-main-source-of-wealth-is-knowledge-and-whereas-you-can/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“How do you cause people to believe in an imagined order such as Christianity, democracy or capitalism? First, you never admit that the order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/how-do-you-cause-people-to-believe-in-an-imagined-order-such-as/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [I think the basic thing that happened is we have lost our story. Humans think in stories, and we try to make sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/i-think-the-basic-thing-that-happened-is-we-have-lost-our-story/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Whereas chimpanzees spend five hours a day chewing raw food, a single hour suffices for people eating cooked food. The advent of cooking enabled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/whereas-chimpanzees-spend-five-hours-a-day-chewing-raw-food-a-single/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“the Chinese air-purification market is booming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-chinese-air-purification-market-is-booming/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Whereas liberalism merged with the milder versions of nationalism to protect the unique experiences of each human community, evolutionary humanists such as Hitler identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/whereas-liberalism-merged-with-the-milder-versions-of-nationalism-to/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Corporations, money and nations exist only in our imagination. We invented them to serve us; why do we find ourselves sacrificing our lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/corporations-money-and-nations-exist-only-in-our-imagination-we/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Small children in affluent societies often dislike showering, and it takes them years of education and parental discipline to adopt this supposedly attractive custom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/small-children-in-affluent-societies-often-dislike-showering-and-it/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Ever more scholars see cultures as a kind of mental infection or parasite, with humans as its unwitting host. Organic parasites, such as viruses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/ever-more-scholars-see-cultures-as-a-kind-of-mental-infection-or/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Soviet Communism was a fanatical and missionary religion. A devout Communist could not be a Christian or a Buddhist, and was expected to spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/soviet-communism-was-a-fanatical-and-missionary-religion-a-devout/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Whereas religion asks us to believe in something, money asks us to believe that other people believe in something”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/whereas-religion-asks-us-to-believe-in-something-money-asks-us-to/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Terrorists are like a fly that tries to destroy a china shop. The fly is so weak that it cannot budge even a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/terrorists-are-like-a-fly-that-tries-to-destroy-a-china-shop-the-fly/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Yet what happens if the greedy shoemaker increases his profits by paying employees less and increasing their work hours? The standard answer is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/yet-what-happens-if-the-greedy-shoemaker-increases-his-profits-by/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“A natural order is a stable order. There is no chance that gravity will cease to function tomorrow, even if people stop believing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/a-natural-order-is-a-stable-order-there-is-no-chance-that-gravity/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) [Explore all 1,200 Yuval Noah Harari quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## More Contraceptive quotes > [The best contraceptive in the world is a good education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joycelyn-elders/the-best-contraceptive-in-the-world-is-a-good-education/) [Joycelyn Elders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joycelyn-elders/) > [The greatest contraceptive one can have in the developing world is the knowledge that your children will live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/the-greatest-contraceptive-one-can-have-in-the-developing-world-is/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [“Of course, the methods for human population control are enormously controversial. One contraceptive measure seems to be humane and acceptable: If you teach calculus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/of-course-the-methods-for-human-population-control-are-enormously/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [“The assumption that fertility control should be manipulated by authorities without respect for the wishes and dignity of individuals still exists. We see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/the-assumption-that-fertility-control-should-be-manipulated-by/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [“A seemingly simple task like taking a bath or wearing a condom feels like multitasking to someone who suffers from hemiplegia or has only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-seemingly-simple-task-like-taking-a-bath-or-wearing-a-condom-feels/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Contraceptive protection is something every woman must have access to, to control her own destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/contraceptive-protection-is-something-every-woman-must-have-access-to/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [The most effective contraceptive will not start off use as directed so expect the unexpected you chose now accepted it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franko/the-most-effective-contraceptive-will-not-start-off-use-as-directed/) Franko > [And we can't discharge that moral responsibility by passing out contraceptives. Contraceptives have been circulating all over Uganda, and it is not clear how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-rivers/and-we-can-t-discharge-that-moral-responsibility-by-passing-out/) Eugene Rivers > [“Millions of deaths would not have happened if it weren’t for the consumption of alcohol. The same can be said about millions of births.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-deaths-would-not-have-happened-if-it-weren-t-for-the/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [She asked me what type of contraceptive I use. Underwear. Keeping it on prevents pregnancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/she-asked-me-what-type-of-contraceptive-i-use-underwear-keeping-it-on/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“He suggests that contraceptive substances be added to basic foods… Should a couple wish to have a child, they'd go to special stores to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/he-suggests-that-contraceptive-substances-be-added-to-basic-foods/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Contraceptive methods are like putting a premium on vice. It makes men and women reckless... As it is, man has sufficiently degraded woman for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/contraceptive-methods-are-like-putting-a-premium-on-vice-it-makes-men/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Ugliness is nature's contraceptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-benford/ugliness-is-nature-s-contraceptive/) [Gregory Benford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-benford/) > [“Some men would not still be HIV negative or alive, if they had managed to sleep with some of the women with whom they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-men-would-not-still-be-hiv-negative-or-alive-if-they-had-managed/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Hope is the best contraceptive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/hope-is-the-best-contraceptive/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) [Browse all 30 Contraceptive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contraceptive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Biologists invent the contraceptive pill – and the Pope doesn’t know what to do about it. 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