Age Quote by Nikola Tesla
“In past ages, the law governing the survival of the fittest roughly weeded out the less desirable strains. Then man's new sense of pity began to interfere with the ruthless workings of nature. As a result, we continue to keep alive and to breed the unfit.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Evolutionary Ethics, 1915
Human compassion interferes with natural selection, leading to the survival of less adapted individuals.
In simple terms: Compassion opposes natural selection.
Key Takeaway
Balance compassion with practicality.
Themes
ethics
evolution
humanity
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- medical triage
- social welfare policies
- conservation efforts
Key Concepts
biology
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Should we prioritize compassion over efficiency?
- How does this view affect modern bioethics?
A Different Perspective
Compassion can improve overall societal resilience despite biological inefficiencies.
![“If he [Thomas Edison] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to be, but would proceed at once with the feverish diligence of a bee, to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. ... [J]ust a little theory and calculation…” quote by Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a00/nikola-tesla-1383_bees_if-he-thomas-edison-had-a-needle-to-find_97217.jpg)
