markm reviewed The Quotable Darwin by Janet Browne
Review of 'The Quotable Darwin' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Some of my favorite quotations are from Darwin. This collection shows what an intelligent, level-headed and humble man he was. To me, the great genius of his works is not that they show such brilliant intuition, but, on the contrary, they show methodical collection of appropriate data, wide reading, evidence of extensive discussion with his colleagues (and pigeon fanciers), and the application of the thoughts of Lyell and Malthus. If you've never read On the Origin of Species, even if you have little interest, you should pick it up and read a chapter or two. Unlike other seminal works, e.g. Newton's Principia.., it is immediately accessible.
The comments about and from his friends and family are especially moving. In the chapter on recollections from his family is this:
The way he brought us up is shown by a little story about my brother Leonard, which my father was …
Some of my favorite quotations are from Darwin. This collection shows what an intelligent, level-headed and humble man he was. To me, the great genius of his works is not that they show such brilliant intuition, but, on the contrary, they show methodical collection of appropriate data, wide reading, evidence of extensive discussion with his colleagues (and pigeon fanciers), and the application of the thoughts of Lyell and Malthus. If you've never read On the Origin of Species, even if you have little interest, you should pick it up and read a chapter or two. Unlike other seminal works, e.g. Newton's Principia.., it is immediately accessible.
The comments about and from his friends and family are especially moving. In the chapter on recollections from his family is this:
The way he brought us up is shown by a little story about my brother Leonard, which my father was fond of telling. He came into the drawing room and found Leonard dancing on the sofa, which was forbidden, for the sake of the springs, and said, “Oh, Lenny, Lenny, that is against all rules,” and received for answer, “Then I think you’d better go out of the room.”