E.O. Wilson

The origin of modern humanity was a stroke of luck—good for our species for a while, bad for most of the rest of life forever.

The evolutionary process is ruthless and creative at the same time.

We are entering a new era of existential risk, a time when the power of our technology threatens to outstrip the wisdom of our culture.

The natural world is the refuge of the human spirit.

The goal of science is to discover the maximum amount of order in the world.

The sense of wonder is the most precious gift we have.

The extinction of species is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.

The human species is a biological entity, and its history is a biological phenomenon.

The ultimate goal of the humanistic side of science is to understand the human condition.

The most successful species are those that are most adaptable.

The future of conservation is in the hands of the young.

The study of ants has taught me that everything in nature is connected.

The drive to discover and create is a fundamental human trait.

The greatest challenge of the new century is to save the planet from ourselves.

The human brain is the most complex object in the known universe.

The bond between humans and nature is not just a matter of survival, but of spiritual and psychological well-being.