Struggle For Existence

In Looking at nature, it is most necessary to keep the foregoing considerations always in mind–every single organic being around us may be said to be striving to the upmost to increase in numbers; each lives by a struggle at some period of its life;heavy destruction falls either on the young or the old, a struggle for existence inevitably follows from the high rate at which oraganic beings tend to increase.

As more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there must be in every case, a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life.

All we can keep in mind is that each being (organic) is striving to in increase at a geometrical ratio;that during each generation or at intervals, has to struggle for life; and to suffer great destruction.

When we reflect on this struggle, we may console ourselves with the full belief, that the war of nature is not incessant, that no fear is felt, that death is generally prompt and that the vigorous, the healthy and the happy survive and multiply.

~Charles Darwin~
From “Origin of the Species.”