All interesting issues in natural history are questions of relative frequency, not single examples. Everything happens once amidst the richness of nature. But when an unanticipated phenomenon occurs again and againโfinally turning into an expectationโthen theories are overturned.
Stephen Jay GouldBut if we laugh with derision, we will never understand. Human intellectual capacity has not altered for thousands of years so far as we can tell. If intelligent people invested intense energy in issues that now seem foolish to us, then the failure lies in our understanding of their world, not in their distorted perceptions.
Stephen Jay GouldI don't think academic writing ever was wonderful. However, science used to be much less specialized.
Stephen Jay Gould