Charles-darwin Quote by Richard Dawkins
““Darwin himself said as much: 'If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. But I can find no such case.' Darwin could find no such case, and nor has anybody since Darwin's time, despite strenuous, indeed desperate, efforts. Many candidates for this holy grail of creationism have been proposed. None has stood up to analysis.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion, 2006
Argues that no complex biological structure defies evolutionary explanation, undermining creationist claims.
In simple terms: Evolution explains all complex organs.
Key Takeaway
Trust scientific evidence over untestable claims.
Themes
science
evolution
critical thinking
skepticism
biology
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- educational curricula
- public debates on science
- policy making
- religious discussions
Key Concepts
complexity
gradualism
empirical testing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we respect belief while teaching science?
- What evidence best illustrates gradual evolution?
A Different Perspective
Some may view the argument as dismissive of personal belief.
![“[Religious belief is] outmoded and ridiculous. [Belief in gods was a] worn out but once useful crutch in mankind's journey towards truth. We consider the time has come for that crutch to be abandoned. It is a vacuous answer... To say that 'God made the world' is simply a more or less sophisticated…” quote by P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4df/p-w-atkins-58341_answers_religious-belief-is-outmoded-and-ridicul_151446.jpg)
![“I was aware of Darwin's views fourteen years before I adopted them and I have done so solely and entirely from an independent study of the plants themselves. [Letter to W.H. Harvey]” quote by Joseph Dalton Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0a5/joseph-dalton-hooker-39139_biology_i-was-aware-of-darwin-s-views-fourteen-y_548151.jpg)
