You ask about my opinion on vivisection. I quite agree that it is justifiable for real investigations on physiology; but not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity. Charles Darwin More Quotes by Charles Darwin More Quotes From Charles Darwin It may be conceit, but I believe the subject will interest the public, and I am sure that the views are original. Charles Darwin viewssciencebelieve People complain of the unequal distribution of wealth [but it is a far greater] injustice that any one man should have the power to write so many brilliant essays... There is no one who writes like [Thomas Huxley]. Charles Darwin writingmenthinking The willing horse is always overworked. Charles Darwin willinghorse It is a fatal fault to reason whilst observing, though so necessary beforehand and so useful afterwards. Charles Darwin observingfaultsreason Nothing could have been worse for the development of my mind than Dr. Butler's school, as it was strictly classical, nothing else being taught, except a little ancient geography and history. The school as a means of education to me was simply a blank. During my whole life I have been singularly incapable of mastering any language. Especial attention was paid to versemaking, and this I could never do well. I had many friends, and got together a good collection of old verses, which by patching together, sometimes aided by other boys, I could work into any subject. Charles Darwin teachingmeanschool I conclude that the musical notes and rhythms were first acquired by the male or female progenitors of mankind for the sake of charming the opposite sex. Charles Darwin musicoppositessex I cannot anyhow be contented to view this wonderful universe, and especially the nature of man, and to conclude that everything is the result of brute force. I am inclined to look at everything as resulting from designed laws, with the details, whether good or bad, left to the working out of what we call chance. Not that this notion at all satisfies me. I feel most deeply that the whole subject is too profound for the human intellect. A dog might as well speculate on the mind of Newton. Let each man hope and believe what he can. Charles Darwin dogsciencebelieve Describing laughter: The sound is produced by a deep inspiration followed by short, interrupted, spasmodic contractions of the chest, and especially the diaphragm... the mouth is open more or less widely, with the corners drawn much backwards, as well as a little upwards; and the upper lip is somewhat raised. Charles Darwin laughterinspirationsound Our faculties are more fitted to recognize the wonderful structure of a beetle than a Universe. Charles Darwin facultystructurewonderful ...all nature is perverse & will not do as I wish it. Charles Darwin wishscience The presence of a body of well-instructed men, who have not to labor for their daily bread, is important to a degree which cannot be overestimated; as all high intellectual work is carried on by them, and on such work material progress of all kinds mainly depends, not to mention other and higher advantages. Charles Darwin societyintellectualmen Hereafter we shall be compelled to acknowledge that the only distinction between species and well-marked varieties is, that the latter are known, or believed to be connected at the present day by intermediate gradations whereas species were formerly thus connected. Charles Darwin latterbeliefscience Whenever I have found that I have blundered, or that my work has been imperfected, and when I have been contemptuously criticised, and even when I have been overpraised, so that I have felt mortified, it has been my greatest comfort to say hundreds of times to myself that 'I have worked as hard as I could, and no man can do more than this.' Charles Darwin foundcomfortmen The most energetic workers I have encountered in my world travels are the vegetarian miners of Chile. Charles Darwin veganvegetarianismworld Some few, and I am one of them, even wish to God, though at the loss of millions of lives, that the North would proclaim a crusade against slavery. In the long-run, a million horrid deaths would be amply repaid in the cause of humanity. Great God! how I should like to see the greatest curse on earth - slavery - abolished! Charles Darwin lossrunningdeath I fully subscribe to the judgement of those writers who maintain that of all the differences between man and the lower animal, the moral sense of conscience is by far the most important....It is the most noble of all the attributes of man. Charles Darwin differencesanimalmen I have no great quickness of apprehension or wit which is so remarkable in some clever men, for instance Huxley Charles Darwin huxleyclevermen The main conclusion here arrived at ... is that man is descended from some less highly organized form. Charles Darwin conclusionformmen After five years' work I allowed myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these I enlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which then seemed to me probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursued the same object. I hope that I may be excused for entering on these personal details, as I give them to show that I have not been hasty in coming to a decision. Charles Darwin hard-workhopescience There are several other sources of enjoyment in a long voyage, which are of a more reasonable nature. The map of the world ceases to be a blank; it becomes a picture full of the most varied and animated figures. Charles Darwin mapslongworld
