“The Creator would appear as endowed with a passion for stars, on the one hand, and for beetles on the other, for the simple reason that there are nearly 300,000 species of beetle known, and perhaps more, as compared with somewhat less than 9,000 species of birds and a little over 10,000 species of mammals.” FondnessBeetles Author:John B. S. Haldane
“If one could conclude as to the nature of the Creator from a study of creation it would appear that God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles.” IfsStarsStudyCreationCreatorFondnessBeetles Author:John B. S. Haldane
“I will jump into the river to save two brothers or eight cousins.” TwoBrotherRiversEightCousinTwo Brothers Author:John B. S. Haldane
“It wasn't until I had performed by first autopsy that I realized that even the drabest human exteriors could contain the most beautiful viscera. After that, I would console myself for the plainness of my fellow bus-riders by dissecting them in my imagination.” FirstsHumansBeautifulImaginationFellowsI RealizedBusMy ImaginationRidersConsoleExteriorDissectingPlainnessAutopsy Author:John B. S. Haldane
“Teleology is like a mistress to a biologist: he cannot live without her but he's unwilling to be seen with her in public.” MistressUnwillingBiologist Author:John B. S. Haldane
“A time will however come (as I believe) when physiology will invade and destroy mathematical physics, as the latter has destroyed geometry.” BelieveTimeBeliefI BelieveMathematicsMathPhysicsDestroyedMathematicalLatterGeometryPhysiology Author:John B. S. Haldane
“To the biologist the problem of socialism appears largely as a problem of size.” ProblemSizeSocialismEugenicsBiologist Book:Possible Worlds Source: Possible Worlds
“So many new ideas are at first strange and horrible though ultimately valuable that a very heavy responsibility rests upon those who would prevent their dissemination.” FirstsIdeasResponsibilityStrangeHeavyValuableHorribleNew IdeasDissemination Author:John B. S. Haldane
“My final word, before I'm done, Is "Cancer can be rather fun"- Provided one confronts the tumour with a sufficient sense of humour. I know that cancer often kills, But so do cars and sleeping pills; And it can hurt till one sweats, So can bad teeth and unpaid debts. A spot of laughter, I am sure, Often accelerates one's cure; So let us patients do our bit To help the surgeons make us fit.” KnowsDoneHelpingScienceFunBitsHurtSleepCarHumourFitLaughterPatientFinalsCancerDebtTeethCuresSpotsSufficientSweatPillsSurgeonsAccelerateFinal WordsSleeping Pills Author:John B. S. Haldane
“You can drop a mouse down a thousand-yard mine shaft and, on arriving at the bottom, it gets a slight shock and walks away. A rat would probably be killed, though it can fall safely from the eleventh story of a building, a man is broken, a horse splashes.” MenStoriesFallWalksBuildingMinesBrokenThousandHorseBottomShockYardsMiceRatsArriving Author:John B. S. Haldane
“There can be no truce between science and religion.” Science And ReligionTruce Author:John B. S. Haldane
“And if we must educate our poets and artists in science, we must educate our masters, labour and capital, in art.” IfsArtArtistEducationPoetMastersLabourEducate Author:John B. S. Haldane
“I suppose the process of acceptance will pass through the usual four stages: (i) this is worthless nonsense; (ii) this is an interesting, but perverse, point of view; (iii) this is true, but quite unimportant; (iv) I always said so.” SaidProcessInterestingViewsFourStageAcceptancePoint Of ViewNonsenseUsualSkepticismWorthlessSkepticUnimportant Author:John B. S. Haldane
“While I do not suggest that humanity will ever be able to dispense with its martyrs, I cannot avoid the suspicion that with a little more thought and a little less belief their number may be substantially reduced.” MayLittlesAbleHumanityBeliefNumbersAtheismSuspicionMartyrMartyred Book:Possible Worlds Source: Possible Worlds
“Man armed with science is like a baby with a box of matches.” MenScienceBabyBoxes Author:John B. S. Haldane
“A discussion between Haldane and a friend began to take a predictable turn. The friend said with a sigh, 'It's no use going on. I know what you will say next, and I know what you will do next.' The distinguished scientist promptly sat down on the floor, turned two back somersaults, and returned to his seat. 'There,' he said with a smile. 'That's to prove that you're not always right.'” KnowsSaidTwoUseScienceTurnsNextProveScientistDiscussionSatSeatsSighDistinguishedPredictable Author:John B. S. Haldane
