“A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives – of approving of some and disapproving of others.”

The most powerful natural species are those that adapt to environmental change without losing their fundamental identity which gives them their competitive advantage.

Such simple instincts as bees making a beehive could be sufficient to overthrow my whole theory.

In conclusion, it appears that nothing can be more improving to a young naturalist, than a journey in distant countries.

I am dying by inches, from not having any body to talk to about insects.

Light may be shed on man and his origins.

It is always advisable to perceive clearly our ignorance.

The highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognise that we ought to control our thoughts.

Attention, if sudden and close, graduates into surprise; and this into astonishment; and this into stupefied amazement.

I see no good reasons why the views given in this volume should shock the religious views of anyone.

Besides love and sympathy, animals exhibit other qualities connected with the social instincts which in us would be called moral.

In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.

We can allow satellites, planets, suns, universe, nay whole systems of universe, to be governed by laws, but the smallest insect, we wish to be created at once by special act.

For the shield may be as important for victory, as the sword or spear.

Thus we have given to man a pedigree of prodigious length, but not, it may be said, of noble quality.

The normal food of man is vegetable.

Some call it evolution, And others call it God.