--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We still do not know the mechanics of…" description: "\"We still do not know the mechanics of evolution in spite of the over-confident claims in some quarters, nor are we likely to make further progress in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/errol-white-73369_biology_we-still-do-not-know-the-mechanics-of-ev_2804698.jpg" --- # We still do not know the mechanics of evolution in spite… ![“We still do not know the mechanics of evolution in spite of the over-confident claims in some quarters, nor are we likely to make further progress in this by the classical methods of paleontology or biology; and we shall certainly not advance matters by jumping up and down shrilling, 'Darwin is…” quote by Errol White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/errol-white-73369_biology_we-still-do-not-know-the-mechanics-of-ev_2804698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/errol-white-73369_biology_we-still-do-not-know-the-mechanics-of-ev_2804698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/errol-white-73369_biology_we-still-do-not-know-the-mechanics-of-ev_2804698.jpg) > “We still do not know the mechanics of evolution in spite of the over-confident claims in some quarters, nor are we likely to make further progress in this by the classical methods of paleontology or biology; and we shall certainly not advance matters by jumping up and down shrilling, 'Darwin is god and I, So-and-so, am his prophet'” Errol White ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evolutionary mechanisms remain elusive; overconfidence hinders progress, and dogma stalls inquiry. **In simple terms:** Science needs humility and new methods. Key Takeaway Seek fresh approaches. Themes science humility progress Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - research - education - public discourse Key Concepts evolutionary theory methodology Questions to Reflect On - How can interdisciplinary methods help? - What assumptions need questioning? A Different Perspective Relying on dogma limits discovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Mechanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanic/) [Paleontology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paleontology/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Up and down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up-and-down/) ## Related quotes > [We shall certainly not advance matters by jumping up and down shrilling, 'Darwin is god and I, so-and-so, am his prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-white/we-shall-certainly-not-advance-matters-by-jumping-up-and-down/) Errol White > [I believe in Darwin and God together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-believe-in-darwin-and-god-together/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [After Darwin, God's role changes from being the designer of all creatures great and small to being the designer of the laws of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/after-darwin-god-s-role-changes-from-being-the-designer-of-all/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [I felt all the things that other teenagers felt. I was insecure in lots of ways, over-confident in others. I was very emotional. Excitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/i-felt-all-the-things-that-other-teenagers-felt-i-was-insecure-in/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [“Make an attempt, when you are unsure. Rethink! when you are too sure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prranav/make-an-attempt-when-you-are-unsure-rethink-when-you-are-too-sure/) Prranav > [I was very bored at school. I found it very easy and slow and grey. My teachers didn't really know how to handle me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-was-very-bored-at-school-i-found-it-very-easy-and-slow-and-grey-my/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [If you wish to feign confusion in order to lure the enemy on, you must first have perfect discipline; if you wish to display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/du-mu/if-you-wish-to-feign-confusion-in-order-to-lure-the-enemy-on-you-must/) [Du Mu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/du-mu/) > [Mistakes occur when a man is over-worked or over-confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/mistakes-occur-when-a-man-is-over-worked-or-over-confident/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [“We can never reach a stage where we can say, “I know everything, and I have nothing more left to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-agnihotri/we-can-never-reach-a-stage-where-we-can-say-i-know-everything-and-i/) [Pooja Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-agnihotri/) > [If computers remain far worse than us at image recognition, a certain over-confident combination of man and machine can elsewhere take inaccuracy to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-chatfield/if-computers-remain-far-worse-than-us-at-image-recognition-a-certain/) [Tom Chatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-chatfield/) > [“In other instances, some of these animals may have made it to a particular area and become extinct for various reasons — ultimately due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/in-other-instances-some-of-these-animals-may-have-made-it-to-a/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [We know evolution happened not because of transitional fossils such as A. natans but because of the convergence of evidence from such diverse fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/we-know-evolution-happened-not-because-of-transitional-fossils-such/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [Human paleontology shares a peculiar trait with such disparate subjects as theology and extraterrestrial biology: it contains more practitioners than objects for study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pilbeam/human-paleontology-shares-a-peculiar-trait-with-such-disparate/) David Pilbeam > [“A geneticist is a geek who claims to have proven through regression analyses that a Neanderthal had sex with your great-grandmother 50,000 years ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gaede/a-geneticist-is-a-geek-who-claims-to-have-proven-through-regression/) [Bill Gaede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gaede/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) ## More by Errol White > [The Descent of Darwin: A Handbook of Doubts about Darwinism,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-white/the-descent-of-darwin-a-handbook-of-doubts-about-darwinism/) Errol White > [We shall certainly not advance matters by jumping up and down shrilling, 'Darwin is god and I, so-and-so, am his prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-white/we-shall-certainly-not-advance-matters-by-jumping-up-and-down/) Errol White > [I have often thought how little I should like to have to prove organic evolution in a court of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-white/i-have-often-thought-how-little-i-should-like-to-have-to-prove/) Errol White Explore all 4 Errol White quotes ## 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 > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/) [Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. 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