To admit that species generally become rare before they become extinct — to feel no surprise at the comparative rarity of one species with another, a… - Charles Darwin

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Engraved portrait of Charles Darwin, facing right

To admit that species generally become rare before they become extinct — to feel no surprise at the comparative rarity of one species with another, and yet to call in some extraordinary agent and to marvel greatly when a species ceases to exist, appears to me much the same as to admit that sickness in the individual is the prelude to death — to feel no surprise at sickness — but when the sick man dies to wonder, and to believe that he died through violence.

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About Charles Darwin

Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. He proposed that evolution could be explained in part through natural and sexual selection. Prompted by awareness that Alfred Russel Wallace was developing similar theories he published his own sooner than he had originally intended. This theory is now an integral component of biological science.

Biography information from Wikiquote · Portrait adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Herbert Rose Barraud (Public domain / CC0)

Also Known As

Birth Name: Charles Robert Darwin
Alternative Names: Charles R. Darwin C. R. Darwin Darwin C.R. Darwin CR Darwin

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A grain in the balance will determine which individual shall live and which shall die - which variety or species shall increase in number, and which shall decrease, or finally become extinct.

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I find I look at this province with very different eyes then when I arrived. I recollect I then thought of it as singularly level, but now after galloping over the montañas my own only surprise is what could have induced me to have ever called it level!

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