nonlinear interactions almost always make the behavior of the aggregate more complicated than would be predicted by summing or averaging.

- John Henry Holland

If we are to understand the interactions of a large number of agents, we must first be able to describe the capabilities of individual agents.

- John Henry Holland

This use of building blocks to generate internal models is a pervasive feature of complex adaptive systems.

- John Henry Holland

When a new building block is discovered, the result is usually a range of innovations.

- John Henry Holland

If there is to be a competition, there must be some basis for resolving it. It is also clear that the competition should be experienced based.

- John Henry Holland

Evolution continually innovates, but at each level it conserves the elements that are recombined to yield the innovations.

- John Henry Holland

Unwrapping occurs when the "solution" is explicitly built into the program from the start.

- John Henry Holland

With theory, we can separate fundamental characteristics from fascinating idiosyncrasies and incidental features. Theory supplies landmarks and guide…

- John Henry Holland

From the point of view of physics, it is a miracle that [seven million New Yorkers are fed each day] without any control mechanism other than sheer c…

- John Henry Holland