--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the scale of life there is a gradual…" description: "\"In the scale of life there is a gradual decline in physical variability, as the organism has gathered into itself resources for meeting the exigencies ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/chauncey-wright-32080_biology_in-the-scale-of-life-there-is-a-gradual_1340016.jpg" --- # In the scale of life there is a gradual decline in… ![“In the scale of life there is a gradual decline in physical variability, as the organism has gathered into itself resources for meeting the exigencies of changing external conditions; and that while in the mindless and motionless plant these resources are at a minimum, their maximum is reached in…” quote by Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/chauncey-wright-32080_biology_in-the-scale-of-life-there-is-a-gradual_1340016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/chauncey-wright-32080_biology_in-the-scale-of-life-there-is-a-gradual_1340016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/chauncey-wright-32080_biology_in-the-scale-of-life-there-is-a-gradual_1340016.jpg) > “In the scale of life there is a gradual decline in physical variability, as the organism has gathered into itself resources for meeting the exigencies of changing external conditions; and that while in the mindless and motionless plant these resources are at a minimum, their maximum is reached in the mind of man, which, at length, rises to a level with the total order and powers of nature, and in its scientific comprehension of nature is a summary, an epitome of the world.” [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human intellect accumulates resources, surpassing plants, and ultimately mirrors nature’s order through scientific understanding. **In simple terms:** Human mind gathers resources and reflects nature. Key Takeaway Cultivate knowledge to align with natural order. Themes philosophy science human nature Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - research - environmental policy - technology development Key Concepts resource accumulation mind vs. plant order of nature Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance resource use with ecological limits? - What role does scientific humility play? A Different Perspective Human cognition is limited by biological constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Comprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comprehension/) [Comprehension Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comprehension-nature-1806397/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Decline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decline/) [Epitome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitome/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Length](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/length/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Maximum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maximum/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mindless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindless/) [Minimum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimum/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Summary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-summary-4523562/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Organism Gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organism-gathered-4523563/) [Organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisms/) [Physical Variability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-variability-4523561/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Power of nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales/) [Summary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summary/) [Variability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variability/) [Variability Organism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variability-organism-3856122/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [That the variability of an organism to a certain extent is a constant and certain condition of life we admit, otherwise there would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/that-the-variability-of-an-organism-to-a-certain-extent-is-a-constant/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [The central task of science is to arrive, stage by stage, at a clearer comprehension of nature, but this does not at all mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/the-central-task-of-science-is-to-arrive-stage-by-stage-at-a-clearer/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [It is time to recognize the variability of females, just as we do males.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/it-is-time-to-recognize-the-variability-of-females-just-as-we-do-males/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [“All organisms vary. 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Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [You want to favor systems that benefit from error, disorder, variability and things like that. You want to favor these systems and unfortunately, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/you-want-to-favor-systems-that-benefit-from-error-disorder/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“Perception can be one-sided or variant: "Glass half empty or half full." There usually is more than one way of perceiving. Thoroughly check your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/perception-can-be-one-sided-or-variant-glass-half-empty-or-half-full/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade, which we interpret as a combination of natural variability and a slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last-2/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Never, never, never think - that's one lesson you should have in life. Never think that lack of variability is stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/never-never-never-think-that-s-one-lesson-you-should-have-in-life/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [There are various non-statistical tools that have been typically developed by lean companies, notably by Toyota for minimizing variability in production, such as standardization,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-imai/there-are-various-non-statistical-tools-that-have-been-typically/) [Masaaki Imai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-imai/) > [“Experiences with finite variability become less engaging because they eventually become predictable. Businesses with finite variability are not inferior per se, they just operate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/experiences-with-finite-variability-become-less-engaging-because-they/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [The modern joint stock firm is the outcome of innumerable decisions made by individual entrepreneurs, owners and managers. For these decision makers the choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-d-chandler-jr/the-modern-joint-stock-firm-is-the-outcome-of-innumerable-decisions/) [Alfred D. Chandler, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-d-chandler-jr/) > [The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-facts-of-variability-of-the-struggle-for-existence-of-adaptation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nature will eventually do what nature has always done. It will respond in a self-stabilizing manner over the long term with moderate variability over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-sununu/nature-will-eventually-do-what-nature-has-always-done-it-will-respond/) [John H. Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-sununu/) ## More by Chauncey Wright > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [Let one persuade many, and he becomes confirmed and convinced, and cares for no better evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/let-one-persuade-many-and-he-becomes-confirmed-and-convinced-and/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [A fact is a proposition of which the verification by an appeal to the primary sources of our knowledge or to experience is directand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/a-fact-is-a-proposition-of-which-the-verification-by-an-appeal-to-the/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [All observers not laboring under hallucinations of the senses are agreed, or can be made to agree, about facts of sensible experience, through evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/all-observers-not-laboring-under-hallucinations-of-the-senses-are/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [Such evidence is not the only kind which produces belief; though positivism maintains that it is the only kind which ought to produce so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/such-evidence-is-not-the-only-kind-which-produces-belief-though/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [By what criterion... can we distinguish among the numberless effects, that are also causes, and among the causes that may, for aught we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/by-what-criterion-can-we-distinguish-among-the-numberless-effects/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [And we owe science to the combined energies of individual men of genius, rather than to any tendency to progress inherent in civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/and-we-owe-science-to-the-combined-energies-of-individual-men-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [The very hope of experimental philosophy, its expectation of constructing the sciences into a true philosophy of nature, is basedon induction, or, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/the-very-hope-of-experimental-philosophy-its-expectation-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [The accidental causes of science are only accidents relatively to the intelligence of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/the-accidental-causes-of-science-are-only-accidents-relatively-to-the/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [What a fearful object a long-neglected duty gets to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/what-a-fearful-object-a-long-neglected-duty-gets-to-be/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [The pains of disconcerted or frustrated habits, and the inherent pleasure there is in following them, are motives which nature has put into our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/the-pains-of-disconcerted-or-frustrated-habits-and-the-inherent/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [Science asks no questions about the ontological pedigree or a priori character of a theory, but is content to judge it by its performance;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/science-asks-no-questions-about-the-ontological-pedigree-or-a-priori/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [Natural Selection never made it come to pass, as a habit of nature, that an unsupported stone should move downwards rather than upwards. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/natural-selection-never-made-it-come-to-pass-as-a-habit-of-nature/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [The questions of philosophy proper are human desires and fears and aspirations - human emotions - taking an intellectual form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/the-questions-of-philosophy-proper-are-human-desires-and-fears-and/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [We receive the truths of science by compulsion. Nothing but ignorance is able to resist them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/we-receive-the-truths-of-science-by-compulsion-nothing-but-ignorance/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) [Explore all 16 Chauncey Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) ## More Biology quotes > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/) [Hideaki Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideaki-sena/) > [I'm all about evolution. 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