Charles Darwin

"I cannot anyhow be contented to view this wonderful universe, and especially the nature of man, and to conclude that everything is the result of brute force. I am inclined to look at everything as resulting from designed laws, with the details, whether good or bad, left to the working out of what we call chance. Not that this notion at all satisfies me. I feel most deeply that the whole subject is too profound for the human intellect. A dog might as well speculate on the mind of Newton. Let each man hope and believe what he can."

6 likes

Source: The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin Volume II C. Darwin to Asa Gray May 22nd [1860] (p. 105)

About the author

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

Naturalist, Geologist

Charles Darwin was a naturalist whose theory of evolution through natural selection, outlined in 'On the Origin of Species', transformed biology.

All quotes by Charles Darwin →

Same author

More quotes by Charles Darwin

See all →
Charles Darwin Naturalist, Geologist

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change, that lives within the means available and works co-operatively against common threats."

Read quote