The formation of different languages and of distinct species and the proofs that both have been developed through a gradual process, are curiously parallel.

The traveler may feel assured, he will meet with no difficulties or dangers, excepting in rare cases, nearly so bad as he beforehand anticipates. In a moral point of view, the effect ought to be, to teach him good-humored patience, freedom from selfishness, the habit of acting for himself, and of making the best of every occurrence.

At no time am I a quick thinker or writer: whatever I have done in science has solely been by long pondering, patience and industry.

Great is the power of steady misrepresentation; but the history of science shows that fortunately this power does not long endure.

Not one change of species into another is on record ... we cannot prove that a single species has been changed.

When the views entertained in this volume on the origin of species, or when analogous views are generally admitted, we can dimly forsee that there will be a considerable revolution in natural history.

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.