Quotes from Francis Galton

Well-washed and well-combed domestic pets grow dull; they miss the stimulus of fleas.

Whenever you can, count.

Exercising the right of occasional suppression and slight modification, it is truly absurd to see how plastic a limited number of observations become, in the hands of men with preconceived ideas.

Life is a republic where the individuals are for the most part unconscious that while they are working for themselves they are also working for the public good.

All male animals, including men, when they are in love, are apt to behave in ways that seem ludicrous to bystanders.

What nature does blindly, slowly and ruthlessly, man may do providently, quickly, and kindly. As it lies within his power, so it becomes his duty to work in that direction.

The aim of eugenics is to represent each class or sect by its best specimens; that done, to leave them to work out their common civilization in their own way.

I do not so easily think in words.... after being hard at work having arrived at results that are perfectly clear... I have to translate my thoughts in a language that does not run evenly with them.

Eugenics is the study of the agencies under social control that may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations either physically or mentally.