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 current system of education is too focused on rote learning and not enough on developing critical thinking.
The true aim of education is to produce well-rounded individuals, capable of contributing to society.
The destruction of natural habitats is a crime against humanity and against future generations.
We have a moral obligation to protect the diversity of life on Earth.
The pursuit of wealth at the expense of nature is a path to ruin.
The theory of evolution by natural selection is incomplete without acknowledging the role of higher intelligence.
The human intellect, with its capacity for abstract thought and moral reasoning, cannot be fully explained by material processes alone.
The existence of altruism and self-sacrifice in humans challenges a purely selfish view of natural selection.
The beauty and complexity of the natural world suggest a guiding hand, rather than mere chance.
The scientific community's reluctance to investigate spiritual phenomena is a form of intellectual prejudice.
The evidence for life after death is stronger than many scientists are willing to admit.
The current economic system, based on competition and exploitation, is inherently unjust.
True progress lies in the moral and intellectual advancement of humanity, not merely in technological innovation.
The universe is not a random collection of events, but a coherent and purposeful system.
The human mind possesses faculties that transcend the purely material, suggesting a spiritual dimension to our existence.
The widespread belief in a future life, across cultures and throughout history, is not without foundation.
The scientific method should be applied to all phenomena, including those that challenge our current understanding of reality.
The theory of natural selection merely explains how species have become adapted to their conditions of life, and how new species arise.
I thought of the successive deaths of the species, and the final extinction of the race, and could not but feel a deep admiration for the force of the simple law of 'the preservation of the favoured races in the struggle for life.'
Nature, by means of the struggle for existence, and the consequent survival of the fittest, acts like a gardener, and selects the best varieties.
Contemporaries of Alfred Russel Wallace
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913).