Birthday Quotes 2: Darwin on good and bad ideas in science.

Adam Sedgwick was one of the leading geologists of Darwin's time, and was a friend and former teacher of Darwin. After reading Origin of Species, he wrote a letter to Darwin expressing his disappointment with the book. In his reply, Darwin wrote:

I grieve to have shocked a man whom I sincerely honour. But I do not think you would wish anyone to conceal the results at which he has arrived after he has worked, according to the best ability which may be in him. I do not think my book will be mischievous; for there are so many workers that, if I be wrong I shall soon be annihilated; & surely you will agree that truth can be known only by rising victorious from every attack.

Tags

More like this

[Moved to the top of the page. First posted at 1:43am]
Charles Darwin's research and writing on Evolution and related topics is still very much alive today, m
Since Ed Darrell made such a comprehensive comment on the question of whether Darwin was as wicked a racist as the illiterate ideo

Great quote. If only people could remember it. T-shirt?

Truth can be known only by rising victorious from every attack. --Charles Darwin