Natural selection has served as a kind of intellectual sieve, producing brains and intelligences increasingly competent to deal with the laws of nature.

Carl Sagan
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Natural selection has served as a kind of intellectual sieve, producing brains and intelligences increasingly competent to deal with the laws of nature. All animals and plants have been selected for their ability to survive and reproduce. For example, animals and plants that can withstand freezing temperatures and endure periods of drought tend to survive. Those creatures that are able to do these things are more likely to reproduce, passing on their traits to their offspring.

Source: Dragons Of Eden: Speculations On The Evolution Of Human Intelligence

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