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About this quote

What does it mean?
Darwin states that the fittest survive by adapting best to their environment, gaining advantage over rivals.
In plain terms
Organisms that adapt best to their environment survive and thrive over others.
What can you take from it?
Adaptation to the environment determines survival success.

Where it applies

  • biology education
  • ecology studies
  • organism research

Putting it to work

  • studying species resilience
  • understanding ecological niches

Questions to consider

  • What does fitness mean in nature?
  • How do environments change species?

Another view

The term 'fittest' can be misinterpreted as meaning physically strongest rather than best adapted.

More from Charles Darwin

  1. I love fools' experiments. I am always making them.

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  2. Mathematics seems to endow one with something like a new sense.

    Permalink to quote #12
  3. Physiological experiment on animals is justifiable for real investigation, but not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity.

    Permalink to quote #9

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