Thus, as I believe, natural selection will tend in the…
““Thus, as I believe, natural selection will tend in the long run to reduce any part of the organisation, as soon as it becomes, through changed habits, superfluous, without by any means causing some other part to be largely developed in a corresponding degree. And conversely, that natural selection may perfectly well succeed in largely developing an organ without requiring as a necessary compensation the reduction of some adjoining part.””
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 removes unused structures unless other parts expand to compensate, and can enlarge organs without needing other parts to shrink.
In simple terms: Unused traits fade unless others grow; organs can grow without shrinking others.
Key Takeaway
Allow evolution to shape function, not force unnecessary parts.
Themes
evolution
biology
adaptation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- medicine
- technology
- environmental change
- personal development
Key Concepts
natural selection
organism
trade‑offs
Questions to Reflect On
- What features could become redundant in your life?
- How might you balance growth and reduction?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems may retain redundant parts for robustness.