Ernst Mayr

The concept of 'gene' is one of the most important concepts in modern biology.

The study of development is crucial for understanding the evolution of form.

The concept of 'population' is central to modern evolutionary theory.

The study of ecology is essential for understanding the interactions between organisms and their environment.

The history of life is a story of extinctions and radiations.

The concept of 'natural' in natural selection refers to the environment, not to some supernatural force.

The scientific enterprise is a collective effort.

The greatest discoveries in science often come from unexpected places.

The concept of 'purpose' in biology is a dangerous one.

The study of evolution is not just about the past, but also about the present and the future.

Evolution is the central unifying concept of biology.

Science is not a body of facts, but a way of thinking.

The living world is not a single entity but a hierarchy of species.

Natural selection is the only known mechanism that can produce adaptation.

Species are the units of evolution.

The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference.

Biology is the most basic science of all, because it is the science of life.

The essence of Darwinism lies in its naturalism.

Chance is a fundamental factor in evolution.

The history of life is a history of massive extinction events.