J. B. S. Haldane

J. B. S. Haldane (1892-1964)

British geneticist and evolutionary biologist.

To the biologist the problem of socialism appears largely as a problem of size. The extreme socialists desire to run every nation as a single business concern. I do not suppose that Henry Ford would find much difficulty in running Andorra or Luxembourg on a socialistic basis. He has already more men on his pay-roll than their population. It is conceivable that a syndicate of Fords, if we could find them, would make Belgium Ltd. or Denmark Inc. pay their way. But while nationalization of certain industries is an obvious possibility in the largest of states, I find it no easier to picture a completely socialized British Empire or United States than an elephant turning somersaults or a hippopotamus jumping a hedge.
- "On Being the Right Size" in the (1928) book "Possible Worlds".

There is no great invention, from fire to flying, which has not been hailed as an insult to some god. (Daedalus or Science and the Future)

The Creator, if He exists, has "an inordinate fondness for beetles".
- This is referring to the fact that 25% of all known animal species are types of beetle. Also quoted as "an inordinate fondness for beetles."
Four stages of acceptance: i) this is worthless nonsense; ii) this is an interesting, but perverse, point of view; iii) this is true, but quite unimportant; iv) I always said so.
- This refers to the stages that a scientific theory goes through.
Now my own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we CAN suppose.
- Often referred to as "Haldane's Law" (not to be confused with Haldane's rule, Haldane's dilemma or Haldane's principle), this is an explanation for the increasing counterintuitiveness of modern scientific theories.
- Compare with Eddington's quote: "Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine."
Would I lay down my life to save my brother? No, but I would to save two brothers or eight cousins.
- This is a joke based on the idea of inclusive fitness. As you share half your genes with a brother and one-eighth with a cousin, Haldane was giving the number of relatives you would have to save to "break even".
There can be no truce between science and religion

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