If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos. -E. O. Wilson Environmental
Every major religion today is a winner in the Darwinian struggle waged among cultures, and none ever flourished by tolerating its rivals. -E. O. Wilson Religion
Individual versus group selection results in a mix of altruism and selfishness, of virtue and sin, among the members of a society. -E. O. Wilson Society
Change will come slowly, across generations, because old beliefs die hard even when demonstrably false. -E. O. Wilson Change
You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. -E. O. Wilson Best
I had in mind a message, although I hope it doesn't intrude too badly, persuading Americans, and especially Southerners, of the critical importance of land and our vanishing natural environment and wildlife. -E. O. Wilson Hope
The essence of humanity's spiritual dilemma is that we evolved genetically to accept one truth and discovered another. Is there a way to erase the dilemma, to resolve the contradictions between the transcendentalist and the empiricist world views? -E. O. Wilson Truth
Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal. -E. O. Wilson Environmental
Blind faith, no matter how passionately expressed, will not suffice. Science for its part will test relentlessly every assumption about the human condition. -E. O. Wilson Science
We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely. -E. O. Wilson Time
I see no way out of the problems that organized religion and tribalism create other than humans just becoming more honest and fully aware of themselves. -E. O. Wilson Religion
If history and science have taught us anything, it is that passion and desire are not the same as truth. -E. O. Wilson History
If history and science have taught us anything, it is that passion and desire are not the same as truth. -E. O. Wilson Science
If those committed to the quest fail, they will be forgiven. When lost, they will find another way. The moral imperative of humanism is the endeavor alone, whether successful or not, provided the effort is honorable and failure memorable. -E. O. Wilson Alone
You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give. -E. O. Wilson Failure
Religious beliefs evolved by group-selection, tribe competing against tribe, and the illogic of religions is not a weakness but their essential strength. -E. O. Wilson Strength
If history and science have taught us anything, it is that passion and desire are not the same as truth. -E. O. Wilson Truth
We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom. The world henceforth will be run by synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely. -E. O. Wilson Wisdom
Science and religion are the two most powerful forces in the world. Having them at odds... is not productive. -E. O. Wilson Religion
If those committed to the quest fail, they will be forgiven. When lost, they will find another way. The moral imperative of humanism is the endeavor alone, whether successful or not, provided the effort is honorable and failure memorable. -E. O. Wilson Failure
