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Alfred Russel Wallace

49quotes

Full Name and Common Aliases


Alfred Russel Wallace was born as Alfred Russel Wallace on January 8, 1823, in Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Birth and Death Dates


January 8, 1823 - November 7, 1913

Nationality and Profession(s)


English naturalist, explorer, geologist, biologist, anthropologist, cartographer, and writer. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and is best known for proposing the theory of evolution through natural selection independently of Charles Darwin.

Early Life and Background


Wallace grew up in Hertfordshire, England, where he developed an early interest in natural history. His love for collecting insects led him to become a professional collector, traveling extensively throughout South America. He spent nearly 9 years in the Amazon rainforest, where he collected thousands of specimens that greatly contributed to our understanding of the region's biodiversity.

Major Accomplishments


Wallace's most notable contribution is his theory of evolution through natural selection. In 1858, he sent a paper on this subject to Charles Darwin, who had been working on similar ideas in isolation. The two scientists jointly presented their work to the Linnean Society of London, paving the way for modern evolutionary biology. Wallace also made significant contributions to the field of biogeography and was one of the first scientists to recognize the importance of island biotas.

Notable Works or Actions


In addition to his groundbreaking theory of evolution through natural selection, Wallace published several notable works, including:

"The Malay Archipelago" (1869), a two-volume account of his travels in Indonesia and Malaysia.
 "Darwinism: An Exposition of the Theory of Natural Selection with Some of its Applications" (1889), which aimed to make Darwin's theory more accessible to a broad audience.

Impact and Legacy


Wallace's work had a profound impact on our understanding of the natural world. His theory of evolution through natural selection provided a fundamental explanation for the diversity of life on Earth, influencing fields such as biology, ecology, anthropology, and medicine. As a pioneering figure in the field of evolutionary biology, Wallace has inspired generations of scientists, thinkers, and explorers.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Wallace is widely quoted and remembered due to his groundbreaking theory of evolution through natural selection. His work continues to influence contemporary debates on topics such as biodiversity conservation, climate change, and the ethics of scientific inquiry. His legacy extends beyond the scientific community, with many regarding him as a hero of modern science and an advocate for social justice.

Wallace's remarkable life and contributions serve as a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and intellectual courage.

Quotes by Alfred Russel Wallace

Alfred Russel Wallace's insights on:

Civilisation has ever accompanied emigration and conquest - the conflict of opinion, of religion, or of race.
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Civilisation has ever accompanied emigration and conquest - the conflict of opinion, of religion, or of race.
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As well might it be said that, because we are ignorant of the laws by which metals are produced and trees developed, we cannot know anything of the origin of steamships and railways.
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As well might it be said that, because we are ignorant of the laws by which metals are produced and trees developed, we cannot know anything of the origin of steamships and railways.
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I slept very comfortably with half a dozen smoke-dried human skulls suspended over my head.
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I slept very comfortably with half a dozen smoke-dried human skulls suspended over my head.
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Civilisation has ever accompanied emigration and conquest – the conflict of opinion, of religion, or of race.
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Civilisation has ever accompanied emigration and conquest – the conflict of opinion, of religion, or of race.
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I hold with Henry George, that at the back of every great social evil will be found a great political wrong.
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I hold with Henry George, that at the back of every great social evil will be found a great political wrong.
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I spent, as you know, a year and a half in a clergyman’s family and heard almost every Tuesday the very best, most earnest and most impressive preacher it has ever been my fortune to meet with, but it produced no effect whatever on my mind.
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I spent, as you know, a year and a half in a clergyman’s family and heard almost every Tuesday the very best, most earnest and most impressive preacher it has ever been my fortune to meet with, but it produced no effect whatever on my mind.
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The white men in our colonies are too frequently the savages.
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The white men in our colonies are too frequently the savages.
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On the spiritual theory, man consists essentially of a spiritual nature or mind intimately associated with a spiritual body or soul, both of which are developed in and by means of a material organism.
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On the spiritual theory, man consists essentially of a spiritual nature or mind intimately associated with a spiritual body or soul, both of which are developed in and by means of a material organism.
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Truth is born into this world only with pangs and tribulations, and every fresh truth is received unwillingly. To expect the world to receive a new truth, or even an old truth, without challenging it, is to look for one of those miracles which do not occur.
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Truth is born into this world only with pangs and tribulations, and every fresh truth is received unwillingly. To expect the world to receive a new truth, or even an old truth, without challenging it, is to look for one of those miracles which do not occur.
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What we need are not prohibitory marriage laws, but a reformed society, an educated public opinion which will teach individual duty in these matters.
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What we need are not prohibitory marriage laws, but a reformed society, an educated public opinion which will teach individual duty in these matters.
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