Quotes About Adaptation

When an acquaintance commiserated upon hearing of the loss of America's capital, Franklin replied, "You mistake the matter. Instead of Howe taking Philadelphia, Philadelphia has taken Howe.

Louisiana is a delightful country, and though the climate too often proves fatal to a foreigner, yet generally we ascribe to the climate what is the effect of our imprudence. I have been severely attacked this summer, and had nearly died, but at length I am acclimated." The author of these words was John Windship, a Bostonian who migrated to Louisiana not long after his graduation from Harvard in 1809.

J.P. Morgan learned to fish in troubled waters.

Cultures evolve. The culture associated with a community changes over time, moving this way and that, pushed by several forces.

genetic drift, and

This degree of specialization is not expected unless it takes some practice to drive fish well. It is not clear why certain dolphins become specialized like this—they don't obviously seem to get more fish and surely use more energy herding than do their comrades, waiting for their food to arrive.

In this scenario, complexity and change may be driven by female choice.83

is a specialized behavior and, as a consequence, only occurs in areas where the ecology is right—where prey and sponges are available.34

Quite so. On the other hand, I am like that horse that was dumbfounded for twenty-four hours. For a long time I thought I could never endure having survived. Then I went back to the pasture.

One Eye slid down from the tree, and Three Eyes climbed up. But Three Eyes

There are many great authors of the past who have survived centuries of oblivion and neglect, but it is still an open question whether they will be able to survive an entertaining version of what they have to say.

When an old truth ceases to be applicable, it does not become any truer by being stood on its head.

Le danger consiste en ce que nous devenions de véritables habitants du désert et que nous nous sentions bien chez lui.

Philosophy suffered more from modernity than any other field of human endeavor.

Holding onto what was isn't healthy for what is.

In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped, to deal with a world that no longer exists.

Kids don't come with instructions. We all mess up. Raising a child is pure impromptu.

There was an old joke about being left on a deserted island with an editor. You are starving. All you have left is a glass of orange juice. Days pass. You are near death. You are about to drink the juice when the editor grabs the glass from your hand and pees into it. You look at him, stunned . There, the editor says, handing you the glass. It just needed a little tweaking.

You grow immune to cruelty. It becomes the norm. You accept it. You move on.

We pay attention to what works with our narrative. We tend to dismiss that which does not.

Survival is the thing. The mind will twist to survive. Anything can become normal.

The young family who'd moved into the Miller home had gotten rid of the Millers' trademark overflowing flower boxes. The new owners of the Davis place had ripped out those wonderful shrubs Bob Davis had worked on every weekend. It all reminded Myron of an invading army ripping down the flags of the conquered.

A tip jar read: FEAR CHANGE. LEAVE IT WITH US.

Hasidim are more open to change than golfers