Accurate Quote by Charles Darwin
“I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term Natural Selection, in order to mark its relation to man's power of selection. But the expression often used by Mr. Herbert Spencer of the Survival of the Fittest is more accurate, and is sometimes equally convenient.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On the Origin of Species, 1859
Natural selection preserves useful variations, similar to Spencer’s “Survival of the Fittest,” highlighting how advantageous traits persist.
In simple terms: Helpful traits survive; useless ones fade.
Recognize and nurture beneficial changes.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- personal development
- technology innovation
- environmental policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify useful variations in your work?
- What risks arise when labeling ideas as “fit” or “unfit”?
The metaphor may oversimplify complex cultural and ethical factors.