Ernst Mayr

Biology German-American 1904 – 2005 100 quotes

Architect of the modern synthesis who emphasized species as the key to evolution.

Quotes by Ernst Mayr

The theory of natural selection is one of the most important scientific theories ever proposed.

Animal Species and Evolution 1963

The study of biodiversity is essential for understanding the health of our planet.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The human species is a product of evolution, just like all other species.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The concept of 'progress' in evolution is a misleading one.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The scientific revolution was not a single event, but a long process of intellectual change.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The history of science is a history of paradigm shifts.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The role of chance in evolution is often underestimated.

Animal Species and Evolution 1963

The concept of 'fitness' in evolution is a relative one.

Animal Species and Evolution 1963

The study of biogeography is essential for understanding the distribution of species.

Systematics and the Origin of Species 1942

The concept of 'type' in biology has been a major source of confusion.

Systematics and the Origin of Species 1942

The development of modern genetics has revolutionized our understanding of evolution.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The study of behavior is an important part of understanding evolution.

Animal Species and Evolution 1963

The concept of 'adaptation' is central to the theory of natural selection.

Animal Species and Evolution 1963

The history of science is full of controversies and debates.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The scientific community is a self-correcting system.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The role of the individual in scientific discovery is often exaggerated.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The greatest challenge for science is to communicate its findings to the public.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982

The concept of 'species' is a human construct, but it reflects a real phenomenon in nature.

Systematics and the Origin of Species 1942

The study of systematics is essential for understanding the diversity of life.

Systematics and the Origin of Species 1942

The theory of evolution is constantly being refined and updated.

The Growth of Biological Thought: Diversity, Evolution, and Inheritance 1982