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)
In the tropical forests of the East, the variety of life is so great that it seems as if nature had been prodigal in her creations.
The distribution of animals and plants over the surface of the globe is one of the most interesting problems in natural history.
I have long been an ardent admirer of Mr. Darwin's views, and have written much in support of them.
The harmony of nature is a delusion; it is but the temporary result of a perpetual conflict.
The wonderful adaptations of animals to their environment are the result of natural selection acting over long periods of time.
In the Amazon valley, I found a paradise of birds and insects, each more beautiful than the last.
The progress of science is marked by the discovery of new truths and the correction of old errors.
I believe in the immortality of the soul, and that it is the highest aspiration of man.
The land of New Guinea is a land of wonders, where every valley holds a new secret of nature.
Natural selection is the architect of organic form, but it works without a plan or preconceived idea.
The study of nature is a source of endless delight and instruction.
In the great drama of evolution, man is but a recent actor on the stage.
The butterflies of the tropics are jewels of the air, each species a masterpiece of color and form.
Science is organized knowledge; wisdom is organized life.
The extinction of species is a necessary part of the evolutionary process.
I have always been a socialist at heart, believing in the equality of all men.
The voice of nature speaks to us through the beauty of the flowers and the song of the birds.
Darwin's theory is the greatest achievement of the nineteenth century.
The mind of man is capable of infinite development, beyond the reach of natural selection.
In the wilds of Borneo, I learned that man is but a part of the great web of life.
Contemporaries of Alfred Russel Wallace
Other Biologys born within 50 years of Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913).