Natural selection acts exclusively by the preservation and accumulation of variations, which are beneficial under the organic and inorganic conditions to which each creature is exposed at all periods of life.
 Charles Darwin, On The Origin of Species (1859). copy citation

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Author Charles Darwin
Source On The Origin of Species
Topic selection life
Date 1859
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2009/2009-h/2009-h.htm

Context

“Although few of the most ancient species have left modified descendants, yet, at remote geological periods, the earth may have been almost as well peopled with species of many genera, families, orders and classes, as at the present day.
ON THE DEGREE TO WHICH ORGANISATION TENDS TO ADVANCE.
Natural selection acts exclusively by the preservation and accumulation of variations, which are beneficial under the organic and inorganic conditions to which each creature is exposed at all periods of life. The ultimate result is that each creature tends to become more and more improved in relation to its conditions. This improvement inevitably leads to the gradual advancement of the organisation of the greater number of living beings throughout the world.” source