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Quote by Charles Darwin

“...he who remains passive when over-whelmed with grief loses his best chance of recovering his elasticity of mind.”

Quote by Charles Darwin

Author

Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, is renowned as the founder of evolutionary biology. Born on February 12, 1809, in England, he passed away on April 19, 1882. Darwin is best known for his research on the theory of evolution, which proposed that species evolve through natural selection and survival of the fittest. more

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“If Mozart, instead of playing the pianoforte at three years old with wonderfully little practice, had played a tune with no practice at all, he might truly have been said to have done so instinctively.”

Ifs Years Littles Has Beens Said Done Might Three Practice Instinct Tunes Three Years Three Year Olds

Book:On the Origin of Species

Source: On the Origin of Species

“Describing laughter: The sound is produced by a deep inspiration followed by short, interrupted, spasmodic contractions of the chest, and especially the diaphragm... the mouth is open more or less widely, with the corners drawn much backwards, as well as a little upwards; and the upper lip is somewhat raised.”

Wells Littles Inspiration Sound Laughter Mouths Raised Lips Corners Chests Backwards Describing Interrupted Contractions

Author:Charles Darwin

“I conclude that the musical notes and rhythms were first acquired by the male or female progenitors of mankind for the sake of charming the opposite sex.”

Firsts Sex Music Mankind Female Opposites Notes Males Musical Sake Rhythm Charming Musical Notes

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Charles Darwin (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Charles Darwin (Illustrated)

“I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural Selection, in order to mark its relation to man's power of selection. But the expression often used by Mr. Herbert Spencer of the Survival of the Fittest is more accurate, and is sometimes equally convenient.”

Ifs Men Sometimes Used Order Term Natural Principles Expression Survival Mark Relation Accurate Selection Variation Convenient Natural Selection Survival Of The Fittest

Author:Charles Darwin

“On the theory of natural selection we can clearly understand the full meaning of that old canon in natural history, “Natura non facit saltum.” This canon, if we look only to the present inhabitants of the world, is not strictly correct, but if we include all those of past times, it must by my theory be strictly true.”

Ifs World Looks Past Natural Theory Selection Natural Selection Canon Natural History Origin Of Species

Book:On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

Source: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

“It is no valid objection that science as yet throws no light on the far higher problem of the essence or origin of life. Who can explain gravity? No one now objects to following out the results consequent on this unknown element of attraction.”

Problem Light Results Objects Higher Elements Essence Following Attraction Gravity Objections Origin Of Life

Book:The Origin Of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition

Source: The Origin Of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition

“At last gleams of light have come, and I am almost convinced (quite contrary to opinion I started with) that species are not (it is like confessing a murder) immutable. Heaven forfend me from Lamarck nonsense of a 'tendency to progression', 'adaptations from the slow willing of animals', &c! But the conclusions I am led to are not widely different from his; though the means of change are wholly so. I think I have found out (here's presumption!) the simple way by which species become exquisitely adapted to various ends.”

Source: Charles Darwin's Works: The life and letters of Charles Darwin... ed. by his son, Francis Darwin. 2v

“When the views entertained in this volume on the origin of species, or when analogous views are generally admitted, we can dimly forsee that there will be a considerable revolution in natural history.”

Natural Views Revolution Species Volume Natural History Origin Of Species

Book:On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection Or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life

Source: On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection Or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life

“But Geology carries the day: it is like the pleasure of gambling, speculating, on first arriving, what the rocks may be; I often mentally cry out 3 to 1 Tertiary against primitive; but the latter have hitherto won all the bets.”

Firsts May Pleasure Rocks Cry Latter Carrie Gambling Primitive Arriving Geology

Book:The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: 1821-1836

Source: The Correspondence of Charles Darwin: 1821-1836

“I must begin with a good body of facts and not from a principle (in which I always suspect some fallacy) and then as much deduction as you please.”

Facts Body Principles Please Suspects Fallacy Deductions

Author:Charles Darwin