In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Stephen Jay Gould appleassentclassroom share on social
At a minimum, in explaining evolutionary pathways through time, the constraints imposed by history rise to equal prominence with the immediate advantages of adaptation. Stephen Jay Gould adaptationadvantageconstraint Change image and share on social
The proof of evolution lies in those adaptations that arise from improbable foundations. Stephen Jay Gould adaptationariseevolution Change image and share on social
What you see is that the most outstanding feature of life's history is a constant domination by bacteria. Stephen Jay Gould bacteriumconstantdomination Change image and share on social
We are glorious accidents of an unpredictable process with no drive to complexity, not the expected results of evolutionary principles that yearn to produce a creature capable of understanding the mode of its own necessary construction. Stephen Jay Gould accidentcapablecomplexity share on social
Science is not a heartless pursuit of objective information. It is a creative human activity, its geniuses acting more as artists than as information processors. Stephen Jay Gould actactivityartist Change image and share on social
Look in the mirror, and don't be tempted to equate transient domination with either intrinsic superiority or prospects for extended survival. Stephen Jay Gould dominationequateextend Change image and share on social
I'm not a great deductive thinker, but I will admit to having competence in a very wide range of things - not being afraid to try to write about baseball, choral music and dinosaurs in the same week and see connections among them. Stephen Jay Gould admitafraidbaseball share on social
Nothing is more dangerous than a dogmatic worldview - nothing more constraining, more blinding to innovation, more destructive of openness to novelty. Stephen Jay Gould blindconstraindangerous Change image and share on social
I love the wry motto of the Paleontological Society, meant both literally and figuratively, for hammers are the main tool of our trade: Frango ut patefaciam - I break in order to reveal. Stephen Jay Gould breakfigurativelyfrango Change image and share on social
