Natural selection acts only by the preservation and…
““Natural selection acts only by the preservation and accumulation of small inherited modifications, each profitable to the preserved being; and as modern geology has almost banished such views as the excavation of a great valley by a single diluvial wave, so will natural selection banish the belief of the continued creation of new organic beings, or of any great and sudden modification in their structure.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Natural selection works through incremental, advantageous changes, not sudden, large‑scale transformations.
In simple terms: Evolution is gradual, not sudden.
Key Takeaway
Embrace slow, steady progress.
Themes
evolution
science
gradualism
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- research
- conservation
Key Concepts
biology
genetics
adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do small changes accumulate over time?
- What evidence supports gradual evolution?
A Different Perspective
Sudden changes can still occur rarely.