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Charles Darwin Quotes about Character

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Man scans with scrupulous care the character and pedigree of his horses, cattle, and dogs before he matches them; but when he comes to his own marriage he rarely, or never, takes any such care.

Man scans with scrupulous care the character and pedigree of his horses, cattle, and dogs before he matches them; but when he comes to his own marriage he rarely, or never, takes any such care.

Charles Darwin
Dog, Horse, Character
Charles Darwin (1871). “The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex”, p.385

How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man! how short his time! and consequently how poor will his products be, compared with those accumulated by nature during whole geological periods. Can we wonder, then, that nature's productions should be far 'truer' in character than man's productions; that they should be infinitely better adapted to the most complex conditions of life, and should plainly bear the stamp of far higher workmanship?

Charles Darwin
Character, Men, Effort
Charles Darwin (2015). “The origin of species (low cost). Limited edition”, p.77, Charles Darwin

The loss of these tastes [for poetry and music] is a loss of happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character, by enfeebling the emotional part of our nature.

Charles Darwin
Character, Loss, Emotional
"Darwin on Evolution: Words of Wisdom from the Father of Evolution".

This fundamental subject of Natural Selection will be treated at some length in the fourth chapter; and we shall then see how Natural Selection almost inevitably causes much Extinction of the less improved forms of life and induces what I have called Divergence of Character.

Charles Darwin
Character, Fundamentals, Extinction
Charles Darwin (1870). “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life”, p.12

I have watched how steadily the general feeling, as shown at elections, has been rising against Slavery. What a proud thing for England if she is the first European nation which utterly abolishes it! I was told before leaving England that after living in slave countries all my opinions would be altered; the only alteration I am aware of is forming a much higher estimate of the negro character.

Charles Darwin
Country, Character, Leaving
Charles Darwin (2015). “Delphi Complete Works of Charles Darwin (Illustrated)”, p.10033, Delphi Classics

It may be doubted whether any character can be named which is distinctive of a race and is constant.

Charles Darwin
Character, Race, May
Charles Darwin (2016). “The Descent of Man (Diversion Classics)”, p.243, Diversion Books

Man is more courageous, pugnacious, and energetic than woman, and has a more inventive genius. His brain is absolutely larger, but whether relatively to the larger size of his body, in comparison with that of woman, has not, I believe been fully ascertained. In woman the face is rounder; the jaws and the base of the skull smaller; the outlines of her body rounder, in parts more prominent; and her pelvis is broader than in man; but this latter character may perhaps be considered rather as a primary than a secondary sexual character. She comes to maturity at an earlier age than man.

Charles Darwin
Women, Believe, Character
"The Descent of Man". Book by Charles Darwin, volume II, chapter XIX: "Secondary Sexual Characters of Man", pages 316-317, 1871.

The explanation of types of structure in classes - as resulting from the will of the Deity, to create animals on certain plans - is no explanation. It has not the character of a physical law and is therefore utterly useless. It foretells nothing because we know nothing of the will of the Deity, how it acts and whether constant or inconstant like that of man.

Charles Darwin
Character, Men, Animal

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