John Maynard Smith Quotes

Genetics is about how information is stored and transmitted between generations.

Evolutionary game theory is a way of thinking about evolution at the phenotypic level when the fitnesses of particular phenotypes depend on their frequencies in the population.

Mathematics without natural history is sterile, but natural history without mathematics is muddled.

Scientific theories tell us what is possible; myths tell us what is desirable. Both are needed to guide proper action.

Paradoxically, it has turned out that game theory is more readily applied to biology than to the field of economic behavior for which it was originally designed

Mathematics is so much easier than words mathematics makes things clear that words merely muddle and confuse and mess up.

Information imposes certain criteria on how it can be stored.

It is in the nature of science that once a position becomes orthodox it should be suggested to criticism.... It does not follow that, because a position is orthodox, it is wrong.

You couldn't have human society without language.

I can't go around believing in a God that believes suffering is good for me.

Language changes very fast.

Societies depend on agreed rules.

It is an occupational risk of biologists to claim, towards the end of their careers, that the problems which they have not solved are insoluble.