Alexander von Humboldt

Biology German 1769 – 1859 380 quotes

Father of ecology and biogeography

Quotes by Alexander von Humboldt

Nature is a unity in diversity, a harmony of many things, no matter how apparently at odds they may be.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The most beautiful and most profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science.

Various (often attributed, exact source debated)

The grandest and most important results are often obtained by combining observations made in different parts of the globe.

Personal Narrative of a Journey to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent 1807

The true wealth of a nation consists not in its gold and silver, but in its forests and rivers, its soil and its climate.

Various (often attributed, exact source debated)

Every plant, every animal, every rock, every river, every mountain, is a part of the great whole, and each has its own peculiar character.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The study of nature is a continuous process of discovery, a perpetual source of wonder and delight.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The love of nature is a feeling which is implanted in the human heart, and which is never entirely extinguished.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The forces of nature are in constant action, and their effects are everywhere visible.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The most important discoveries are often made by accident.

Various (often attributed)

The human mind is capable of comprehending the most complex phenomena of nature.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The contemplation of nature is a source of inexhaustible pleasure.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The history of the world is the history of man's struggle with nature.

Various (often attributed)

The study of nature is the noblest pursuit of man.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The earth is a living organism, and we are all a part of it.

Various (often attributed, reflecting his holistic view)

The more we know of nature, the more we admire its wisdom.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The greatest discoveries are those which reveal the unity of nature.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The true object of science is to discover the laws of nature.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The study of nature is a source of moral improvement.

Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe 1845

The physical world is a mirror of the spiritual world.

Various (reflecting his Romantic influences)

The most important thing is to never stop questioning.

Various (often attributed, though not a direct quote)