22 quotes
English naturalist and biologist (1809–1882)
“The very essence of instinct is that it's followed independently of reason.”
"If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin."
on Social Justice
"We are not here concerned with hopes or fears, only with truth as far as our reason permits us to discover it."
on Truth
"If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week."
on Life
"A man who dares to waste one hour of life has not discovered the value of life."
"A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth."
on Relationships
"I love fools' experiments. I am always making them."
on Humor
"A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life."
"To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, the establishing of a new truth or fact."
on Wisdom
"It is difficult to believe in the dreadful but quiet war lurking just below the serene facade of nature."
on Nature
"A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives—of approving of some and disapproving of others."
on Philosophy
"Freedom of thought is best promoted by the gradual illumination of men’s minds which follows from the advance of science."
on Freedom
"One hand has surely worked throughout the universe."
on Biology
"The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us and I for one must be content to remain agnostic."
"As for a future life every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague possibilities."
"It is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance."
"An American monkey, after getting drunk on brandy, would never touch it again, and thus is much wiser than most men."
"None can reply - all seems eternal now. The wilderness has a mysterious tongue, which teaches awful doubt."
"One general law, leading to the advancement of all organic beings, namely, multiply, vary, let the strongest live and the weakest die."
"It is necessary to look forward to a harvest, however distant that may be, when some fruit will be reaped, some good effected."
on Hope
"As for future life every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities."
