My father so appropriately put it that we are certainly the only animal that makes conscious choices that are bad for our survival as a species.
Louise LeakeyRead
I think when you work on fossils, and you realize that a species is there, and it's abundant for quite a long period of time, and then at some point it's no longer there - and so, when you look at that bigger picture, yes, you realize that either you change and adapt, or, as a species, you go extinct.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Species must adapt to survive; otherwise, they risk extinction.
This quote by Louise Leakey emphasizes the importance of adaptability within the context of evolution and survival. It suggests that in the face of changing environments or circumstances, species – including humans – must either evolve and change in response to those challenges, or they may face the fate of extinction, highlighting the broader lesson that adaptability is crucial for survival in any aspect of life.
Themes
AdaptationChangeSurvivalEvolutionExtinction
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on climate change, this quote can illustrate the need for ecological adaptation.
More from Louise Leakey
All quotes →If you want to become a fossil, you actually need to die somewhere where your bones will be rapidly buried. You then hope that the earth moves in such a way as to bring the bones back up to the surface. And then you hope that one of us lot will walk around and find small pieces of you.
Louise LeakeyRead
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