Celebrating Charles Darwin

Charles Robert Darwin is one of the most celebrated naturalists in history. Darwin is best known for his groundbreaking work, “On the Origin of Species”, the book that introduced evidence for evolution through natural selection. Although the theory initially faced strong opposition, by the time of Darwin’s death in 1882 these concepts had permeated science, politics, and literature. Now, over 100 years later the scientific community continues to celebrate his legacy by celebrating Darwin’s birthday every February 12th, known as “Darwin Day”.

This year we wanted to commemorate Darwin day with a selection of some of his most famous or impactful quotes.

1. One general law, leading to the advancement of all organic beings, namely, multiply, vary, let the strongest live and the weakest die.
   – Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species”
2. There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved
   – Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species”
3. In conclusion, it appears that nothing can be more improving to a young naturalist, than a journey in distant countries.
   – Charles Darwin, “The Voyage of the Beagle”
4. It has often and confidently been asserted, that man’s origin can never be known: but ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.
   – Charles Darwin, “The Descent of Man”
5. This preservation of favourable variations and the rejection of injurious variations, I call Natural Selection.
   – Charles Darwin, “On the Origin of Species”

And finally, an honorable mention: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change.” This quote is often attributed to Darwin – in fact, it is one of the most famous “Darwin quotes” on the internet. However, there is no evidence that it was ever written or spoken by Darwin. Instead, the quote seems to come from Leon C. Megginson, a management sociologist at Louisiana State University. However, the quote is a wonder paraphrase of Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection!