Alfred Russel Wallace
Independently conceived the theory of evolution by natural selection and made significant contributions to biogeography.
Most quoted
"The action of this principle is exactly like that of the centrifugal governor of the steam engine, which checks and corrects any irregularities almost before they become evident; and in like manner no unbalanced deficiency in the animal kingdom can ever have continued to exist."
— from Letter to Charles Darwin, 1858
"The great superiority of the human intellect over that of the lower animals, and the fact that this superiority is not required by the conditions of savage life, seem to me to be an insuperable difficulty in the way of the theory of natural selection."
— from Contributions to the Theory of Natural Selection
"The general result of the study of the fossil remains of the extinct mammalia is to show that the forms most nearly allied to those now living were the latest, and that the more ancient forms differ more and more widely from the existing types."
— from Island Life, 1880
All quotes by Alfred Russel Wallace (406)
The greatest challenge that we face is to reconcile our scientific understanding of the world with our spiritual aspirations.
I have always been a great admirer of the courage of those who dare to explore the unknown, and to push the boundaries of human knowledge.
The greatest adventure in life is to discover who you are, and to live your life to the fullest.
I have always been a great admirer of the power of ideas, and I have always found them to be the most potent force for change in the world.
The grand law of nature is, that there is no such thing as chance.
The universe is not a chaos, but a cosmos; not a fortuitous jumble, but an orderly whole.
The more we study nature, the more we are impressed with the conviction that everything is designed for a purpose.
The human mind is capable of grasping the infinite, and of comprehending the eternal.
The spiritual nature of man is as real as his physical nature.
The highest faculties of man have been developed, not for the preservation of his own life, but for the good of others.
The ultimate end of human existence is not happiness, but perfection.
The true object of life is to learn, to grow, to develop, and to become more like the Divine.
The universe is full of life, and life is full of meaning.
Death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life.
The soul is immortal, and will continue to exist after the death of the body.
The human mind is a mirror, reflecting the divine mind.
The highest form of knowledge is self-knowledge.
The pursuit of truth is the noblest of all human endeavors.
Beauty is the outward manifestation of inner truth.
The love of beauty is a divine instinct.
Contemporaries of Alfred Russel Wallace
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913).