Richard Dawkins · 336 pages
Rating: (6.8K votes)
“The facts are as follows. The total amount of DNA in different organisms is very variable, and the variation does not make obvious sense in terms of phylogeny. This is the so-called ‘C-value paradox’. ‘It seems totally implausible that the number of radically different genes needed in a salamander is 20 times that found in a man’ (Orgel & Crick 1980). It is equally implausible that salamanders on the West side of North America should need many times more DNA than congeneric salamanders on the East side.”
― Richard Dawkins, quote from The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene
“The whole purpose of our search for a ‘unit of selection’ is to discover a suitable actor to play the leading role in our metaphors of purpose.”
― Richard Dawkins, quote from The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene
“Adoption and contraception, like reading, mathematics, and stress-induced illness, are products of an animal that is living in an environment radically different from the one in which its genes were naturally selected.”
― Richard Dawkins, quote from The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene
“To the extent that active germ-line replicators benefit from the survival of the bodies in which they sit, we may expect to see adaptations that can be interpreted as for bodily survival. A large number of adaptations are of this type. To the extent that active germ-line replicators benefit from the survival of bodies other than those in which they sit, we may expect to see ‘altruism’, parental care, etc. To the extent that active germ-line replicators benefit from the survival of the group of individuals in which they sit, over and above the two effects just mentioned, we may expect to see adaptations for the preservation of the group.”
― Richard Dawkins, quote from The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene
“Why are genetic determinants thought to be any more ineluctable, or blame-absolving, than ‘environmental’ ones?”
― Richard Dawkins, quote from The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene
Richard Dawkins
Born place: in Nairobi, Kenya
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“The phrasing annoyed Sage. As long as she was pretty and in a good mood, her husband would love her? People needed love most when they weren't at their best.”
― Erin Beaty, quote from The Traitor's Kiss
“What about your family?"
"Please. They have to tell me I'm a good designer. That's their job."
Diana thought of her mother saying, I didn't expect you to win. "Not necessarily."
"Oh man, do you have one of those though-love families? I just don't buy into that."
"Why not?" Diana asked cautiously.
"Because the whole world loves to tell us what we can't do, that we aren't good enough. The people in your own house should be on your side. It's the people who never learn the word impossible who make history, because they're the ones who keep trying.”
― Leigh Bardugo, quote from Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“...You were just being honest. I get that now. You've always told me the truth. You're always honest with me. And the truth hurts sometimes...but empty promises hurt a lot more. And you've never given me those.”
― Jessica Pennington, quote from Love Songs & Other Lies
“Cuando han pasado muchos años, o incluso no tantos, la gente se cuenta los hechos como le conviene y llega a creerse su propia versión, su distorsión.”
― Javier Marías, quote from Thus Bad Begins
“Learning how to walk away uses a different set of muscles, new ones that I haven’t yet developed.”
― Aaron Hartzler, quote from What We Saw
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