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I would give absolutely nothing for the theory of Natural Selection, if it requires miraculous additions at any one stage of descent.
Charles Darwin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Darwin expresses skepticism about Natural Selection if it relies on miraculous events during evolution.

In this quote, Charles Darwin emphasizes his belief in Natural Selection as a natural and gradual process, asserting that if it requires any miraculous interventions or additions at any point in the evolutionary history, then he would not value the theory. This reveals his commitment to empiricism and the idea that scientific explanations should be based on observable natural phenomena rather than supernatural or miraculous events.

Themes

Natural SelectionEvolutionScienceTheoryDarwin

In practice

Example use cases

During a science lecture on evolution, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of empirical evidence.

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I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection.
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we are always slow in admitting any great change of which we do not see the intermediate steps
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Quote by Charles Darwin | QuoteProject