Species evolve exactly as if they were adapting as best they could to a changing world, and not at all as if they were moving toward a set goal.
George Gaylord SimpsonRead
To put it crudely but graphically, the monkey who did not have a realistic perception of the tree branch he jumped for was soon a dead monkey-and therefore did not become one of our ancestors.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote illustrates the importance of realistic assessment in decision-making to avoid failure.
George Gaylord Simpson's quote emphasizes the necessity of having a clear and accurate understanding of one's environment and circumstances. It uses the metaphor of a monkey jumping for a tree branch to highlight that those who misjudge their situations may face dire consequences, as the species that cannot adapt or recognize the risks do not survive to pass on their genes. This serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of awareness and thoughtful consideration in life's decisions.
Themes
Decision-MakingRiskPerceptionSurvivalSelf-Awareness
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a leadership seminar discussing the importance of strategic planning.
More from George Gaylord Simpson
All quotes →If a sect does officially insist that its structure of belief demands that evolution be false, then no compromise is possible. An honest and competent biology teacher can only conclude that the sect's beliefs are wrong and that its religion is a false one.
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Now we do have many examples of transitional sequences.
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He is a state of matter, a form of life, a sort of animal, and a species of the Order Primates, akin nearly or remotely to all of life and indeed to all that is material.
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Man is the result of a purposeless and materialistic process that did not have him in mind. He was not planned. He is a state of matter, a form of life, a sort of animal, and a species of the Order Primates, akin nearly or remotely to all of life and indeed to all that is material.
George Gaylord SimpsonRead
Man is the result of a purposeless and natural process that did not have him in mind
George Gaylord SimpsonRead
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