Charles Darwin

The presence of a body of well-instructed men, who have not to labor for their daily bread, is important to read more

The presence of a body of well-instructed men, who have not to labor for their daily bread, is important to a degree which cannot be overestimated; as all high intellectual work is carried on by them, and on such work material progress of all kinds mainly depends, not to mention other and higher advantages.

Without speculation there is no good and original observation.

Without speculation there is no good and original observation.

I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and read more

I have steadily endeavored to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon as the facts are shown to be opposed to it.

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the one most responsive to read more

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, read more

The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference