Georges Cuvier
A founder of paleontology and comparative anatomy, known for his work on extinction and his opposition to evolutionary theories.
Most quoted
"The animal kingdom, viewed in its entirety, presents a vast and complex network of relationships, where every part is connected to every other part, and where the destruction of one link can reverberate throughout the whole."
— from Le Règne Animal distribué d'après son organisation
"Every organized being forms a whole, a unique and closed system, of which all the parts mutually correspond and concur to the same definitive action by a reciprocal reaction."
— from The Animal Kingdom, 1817
"Our consciousness allows us to reflect on our own mortality, to ponder the meaning of our brief existence, and to seek solace in the enduring patterns of the natural world."
— from Discourse on the Revolutions of the Surface of the Globe
All quotes by Georges Cuvier (414)
The study of anatomy is the foundation of all biological sciences.
The perfection of an organism is measured by its adaptation to its environment.
The diversity of life is a testament to the power and wisdom of the Creator.
The idea of spontaneous generation is a chimera.
The study of monstrosities can shed light on the normal development of organisms.
The organization of animals is a masterpiece of divine wisdom.
The history of life is a series of destructions and renewals.
The study of fossils is a window into the past.
The animal kingdom is divided into classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
The study of nature is the study of God's work.
The principle of subordination of characters is essential for classification.
The study of comparative anatomy reveals the unity of plan in the animal kingdom.
The Earth is much older than commonly believed.
The study of fossils is a powerful tool for understanding geological history.
The idea of a single, continuous chain of being is a philosophical construct, not a scientific reality.
The correlation of parts is not merely a matter of form, but also of function.
The study of extinct animals is crucial for understanding the present diversity of life.
The animal kingdom is a collection of distinct types, each with its own unique organization.
The principle of the correlation of parts allows us to reconstruct the habits and diet of extinct animals.
The study of fossils provides evidence against the idea of the transmutation of species.
Contemporaries of Georges Cuvier
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Georges Cuvier (1769–1832).