--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you attend a meeting of evolutionary…" description: "\"“If you attend a meeting of evolutionary biologists somewhere in America, you might be lucky and spot a tall, gray-whiskered, smiling man bearing a str..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/matt-ridley-8082_abraham-lincoln_if-you-attend-a-meeting-of-evolutionary_67381.png" --- # If you attend a meeting of evolutionary biologists… ![“If you attend a meeting of evolutionary biologists somewhere in America, you might be lucky and spot a tall, gray-whiskered, smiling man bearing a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln, standing rather diffidently at the back of the crowd. He will probably be surrounded by a knot of admirers…” quote by Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/matt-ridley-8082_abraham-lincoln_if-you-attend-a-meeting-of-evolutionary_67381.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/matt-ridley-8082_abraham-lincoln_if-you-attend-a-meeting-of-evolutionary_67381.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/matt-ridley-8082_abraham-lincoln_if-you-attend-a-meeting-of-evolutionary_67381.png) > ““If you attend a meeting of evolutionary biologists somewhere in America, you might be lucky and spot a tall, gray-whiskered, smiling man bearing a striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln, standing rather diffidently at the back of the crowd. He will probably be surrounded by a knot of admirers, hanging on his every word—for he is a man of few words. A whisper will go around the room: “George is here.” You will sense from people’s reactions the presence of greatness.”” [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The anecdote illustrates how a charismatic, intellectually modest figure can command respect and inspire awe within a scientific community, suggesting that personal presence can amplify the impact of ideas. **In simple terms:** Charismatic modesty inspires respect. Key Takeaway Greatness often lies in quiet confidence. Themes leadership humility intellectual charisma science culture perception Mood reverent inspired curious Type anecdotal observational humorous When to use this quote - academic conferences - research seminars - department meetings - informal gatherings Key Concepts social dynamics authority influence Practical Applications - building credibility in scientific circles - enhancing mentorship Questions to Reflect On - What role does personal demeanor play in scientific discourse? - How can modesty affect the reception of ideas? A Different Perspective null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abraham lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abraham-lincoln/) [Biologists America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biologists-america-894735/) [Evolutionary Biologists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolutionary-biologists-501632/) [Meeting Evolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meeting-evolutionary-894736/) [Resemblance Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resemblance-abraham-894737/) ## Related quotes > [Evolutionary biologists have been able to pretend to know how complex biological systems originated only because they treated them as black boxes. Now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/evolutionary-biologists-have-been-able-to-pretend-to-know-how-complex/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Scientists generally, not just evolutionary biologists, don't take much for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/scientists-generally-not-just-evolutionary-biologists-don-t-take-much/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The monopoly of science in the realm of knowledge explains why evolutionary biologists do not find it meaningful to address the question whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/the-monopoly-of-science-in-the-realm-of-knowledge-explains-why/) [Phillip E. 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As a whole, the Whigs looked upon banks and corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/remember-that-abraham-lincoln-was-a-whig-far-longer-than-he-was-a/) [Allen C. 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Abraham Lincoln, born to a poor family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/everybody-faces-obstacles-and-i-looked-to-people-who-had-been-through/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [“What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/what-is-to-be-will-be-and-no-prayers-of-ours-can-arrest-the-decree/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Men like Abraham Lincoln recognized that if the slaveholders were not stopped, it would only be a question of time until they spread their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/men-like-abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-if-the-slaveholders-were-not/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [“Most people,” Abraham Lincoln said, “are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lickona/most-people-abraham-lincoln-said-are-about-as-happy-as-they-make-up/) [Thomas Lickona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lickona/) > [Abraham Lincoln did not contend that his actions were immune from Congressional correction; on the contrary, he specifically said he was acting beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lee-miller/abraham-lincoln-did-not-contend-that-his-actions-were-immune-from/) [William Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lee-miller/) > [I grew up in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Harden County, which is not too far from the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cameron/i-grew-up-in-elizabethtown-kentucky-harden-county-which-is-not-too/) [Daniel Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cameron/) > [“Abraham Lincoln struck off the chains of black Americans, but it was Lyndon Johnson who led them into voting booths, closed democracy’s sacred curtain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/abraham-lincoln-struck-off-the-chains-of-black-americans-but-it-was/) [Robert A. 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