Stephen Jay Gould

The greatest scientific discoveries often lead to more questions than answers.

The human species is a testament to the power of natural selection.

Science is a never-ending quest for understanding.

The history of life is a story of both continuity and discontinuity.

I am a scientist, and I believe in the power of observation and reason. But I am also a human being, and I believe in the power of stories and metaphors.

Evolution is not a ladder of progress, but a bush of branching forms.

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

Science is a way of knowing, but it is not the only way of knowing.

The universe is not obliged to make sense to us.

I am an atheist, but I am not anti-religious. I respect the human need for meaning and transcendence.

The history of life is not a story of inevitable progress, but a tale of contingency and chance.

We are all products of our history, both biological and cultural.

The beauty of science lies in its ability to reveal the unexpected.

To understand life, we must understand its history.

The human mind is a product of evolution, but it is also capable of transcending its biological origins.

I am a storyteller at heart, and science provides the greatest stories of all.

The greatest challenge for humanity is to reconcile our scientific understanding with our ethical responsibilities.

Punctuation is the breath of language.

The world is full of wonders, if only we take the time to look.

My greatest joy is to learn something new every day.