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It was Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, who coined the…

“It was Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, who coined the phrase Survival of the Fittest.” quote by John Kenneth Galbraith
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“It was Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, who coined the phrase Survival of the Fittest.”

John Kenneth Galbraith

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The phrase “survival of the fittest” was coined by Spencer, not Darwin, highlighting misattribution.

In simple terms: Spencer, not Darwin, coined “survival of the fittest”.

Key Takeaway

Correct the origin of a common phrase.

Themes

evolution misinformation history

Mood

educational critical

Type

historical scientific

When to use this quote

  • education
  • science communication
  • debate
  • media reporting

Key Concepts

evolutionary theory public discourse

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we keep attributing the phrase to Darwin?
  • How does correct attribution affect understanding?
A Different Perspective

Misattributions persist despite correction.

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