The Quotable Darwin
A treasure trove of illuminating and entertaining quotations from the legendary naturalist

Here is Charles Darwin in his own words—the naturalist, traveler, scientific thinker, and controversial author of On the Origin of Species, the book that shook the Victorian world. Featuring hundreds of quotations carefully selected by world-renowned Darwin biographer Janet Browne, The Quotable Darwin draws from Darwin’s writings, letters to friends and family, autobiographical reminiscences, and private scientific notebooks. It offers a multifaceted portrait that takes readers through his youth, the famous voyage of the Beagle, the development of his thoughts about evolution, his gradual loss of religious faith, and the time spent turning his ideas into a well-articulated theory about the natural origin of all living beings—a theory that dangerously included the origin of humans.

The Quotable Darwin also includes many of the key responses to Darwin’s ideas from figures across the social spectrum, scientists and nonscientists alike—and criticism too. We see Darwin as an innovative botanist and geologist, an affectionate husband and father, and a lively correspondent who once told his cousin that he liked to play billiards because “it drives the horrid species out of my head.” This book gives us an intimate look at Darwin at work, at home, as a public figure, and on his travels.

Complete with a chronology of Darwin’s life by Browne, The Quotable Darwin provides an engagingly fresh perspective on a remarkable man who was always thinking deeply about the natural world.

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The Quotable Darwin
A treasure trove of illuminating and entertaining quotations from the legendary naturalist

Here is Charles Darwin in his own words—the naturalist, traveler, scientific thinker, and controversial author of On the Origin of Species, the book that shook the Victorian world. Featuring hundreds of quotations carefully selected by world-renowned Darwin biographer Janet Browne, The Quotable Darwin draws from Darwin’s writings, letters to friends and family, autobiographical reminiscences, and private scientific notebooks. It offers a multifaceted portrait that takes readers through his youth, the famous voyage of the Beagle, the development of his thoughts about evolution, his gradual loss of religious faith, and the time spent turning his ideas into a well-articulated theory about the natural origin of all living beings—a theory that dangerously included the origin of humans.

The Quotable Darwin also includes many of the key responses to Darwin’s ideas from figures across the social spectrum, scientists and nonscientists alike—and criticism too. We see Darwin as an innovative botanist and geologist, an affectionate husband and father, and a lively correspondent who once told his cousin that he liked to play billiards because “it drives the horrid species out of my head.” This book gives us an intimate look at Darwin at work, at home, as a public figure, and on his travels.

Complete with a chronology of Darwin’s life by Browne, The Quotable Darwin provides an engagingly fresh perspective on a remarkable man who was always thinking deeply about the natural world.

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The Quotable Darwin

The Quotable Darwin

The Quotable Darwin

The Quotable Darwin

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Overview

A treasure trove of illuminating and entertaining quotations from the legendary naturalist

Here is Charles Darwin in his own words—the naturalist, traveler, scientific thinker, and controversial author of On the Origin of Species, the book that shook the Victorian world. Featuring hundreds of quotations carefully selected by world-renowned Darwin biographer Janet Browne, The Quotable Darwin draws from Darwin’s writings, letters to friends and family, autobiographical reminiscences, and private scientific notebooks. It offers a multifaceted portrait that takes readers through his youth, the famous voyage of the Beagle, the development of his thoughts about evolution, his gradual loss of religious faith, and the time spent turning his ideas into a well-articulated theory about the natural origin of all living beings—a theory that dangerously included the origin of humans.

The Quotable Darwin also includes many of the key responses to Darwin’s ideas from figures across the social spectrum, scientists and nonscientists alike—and criticism too. We see Darwin as an innovative botanist and geologist, an affectionate husband and father, and a lively correspondent who once told his cousin that he liked to play billiards because “it drives the horrid species out of my head.” This book gives us an intimate look at Darwin at work, at home, as a public figure, and on his travels.

Complete with a chronology of Darwin’s life by Browne, The Quotable Darwin provides an engagingly fresh perspective on a remarkable man who was always thinking deeply about the natural world.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780691270920
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 03/25/2025
Pages: 384
Product dimensions: 4.50(w) x 7.37(h) x (d)

About the Author

About The Author
Charles Darwin (1809–1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist who developed the revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection. His books included On the Origin of Species and The Voyage of the “Beagle.” Janet Browne is the Aramont Professor Emeritus of the History of Science at Harvard University. Her books include the acclaimed two-volume biography of Darwin, Charles Darwin: Voyaging and Charles Darwin: The Power of Place (both Princeton).

Date of Birth:

February 12, 1809

Date of Death:

April 19, 1882

Place of Birth:

Shrewsbury, England

Place of Death:

London, England

Education:

B.A. in Theology, Christ¿s College, Cambridge University, 1831

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xix

Chronology xxiii

Part 1: Early Life and Voyage of the Beagle Foundations 3

The Beagle Voyage 11

Geology 24

Slavery 30

Natural History Collecting 33

Indigenous Peoples 39

Galápagos Archipelago 45

Part 2: Marriage and Scientific Work Notes on Species 53

Marriage 59

A Theory by Which to Work 65

Children 73

Pigeons 80

Barnacles 84

Precursors 90

Independent Discoveries 97

Part 3: Origin of Species On the Origin of Species 107

Species 117

Selection 122

Difficulties 127

Design and Free Will 133

Variation and Heredity 138

Origin of Life 144

Survival of the Fittest 147

Responses to On the Origin of Species 150

Botany 165

Part 4: Mankind Human Origins 173

Race 181

Sexual Selection 185

Morality 190

Intellect 193

Instincts 198

Expression of the Emotions 202

Human Society 207

Part 5: On Himself Religious Belief 217

Health 226

Politics 232

Science 234

Writing 240

Dogs 244

Anti-vivisection 247

Nature 249

Autobiographical 253

Part 6: Friends and Family

Friends and Contemporaries 263

Reflections by His Contemporaries 275

Recollections by His Family 286

Tributes 298

Varia 303

Sources 307

Index 315

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"If anyone ever asks me which figure from history I'd invite to a dinner party, my instant answer will be Charles Darwin. This book of quotations is one long argument for his profundity, warmth, charm, wit, and humanity. Even readers who already know him well will discover something new and delightful here."—Jonathan Weiner, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Beak of the Finch

"Nobody knows Darwin as Janet Browne does. Her intimate familiarity with the subject shows here in an abundance of well-chosen quotations. Through Darwin's own words, we learn how the aspiring naturalist matured with experience into the scientist whose revolutionary theory on evolution has been described as the greatest intellectual contribution to the nineteenth century. The portrait is vivid and truthful."—Peter R. Grant, coauthor of 40 Years of Evolution: Darwin's Finches on Daphne Major Island

"An enlightening and entertaining collection of Darwin's thinking on a wonderful diversity of topics, personal and scientific. The Quotable Darwin enables readers to see and understand Darwin in a new way, through his own words and those of his contemporaries. His humor, humility, frustrations, exultations, and more come through nicely in these well-selected quotes."—James T. Costa, author of Wallace, Darwin, and the Origin of Species

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