As well might it be said that, because we are ignorant of the laws by which metals are produced and trees developed, we cannot know anything of the origin of steamships and railways

I hold with Henry George, that at the back of every great social evil will be found a great political wrong

In my solitude I have pondered much on the incomprehensible subjects of space, eternity, life and death.

In less than eight years "The Origin of Species" has produced conviction in the minds of a majority of the most eminent living men of science. New facts, new problems, new difficulties as they arise are accepted, solved, or removed by this theory; and its principles are illustrated by the progress and conclusions of every well established branch of human knowledge.

I am decidedly of the opinion that in very many instances we can trace such a necessary connexion, especially among birds, and often with more complete success than in the case which I have here attempted to explain.

Modification of form is admitted to be a matter of time

Truth is born into this world only with pangs and tribulations, and every fresh truth is received unwillingly.