The Autobiography of Charles DarwinDarwin, Charles
Science
The Autobiography of Charles Darwin
Darwin, Charles
Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882; Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882. On the origin of species; Naturalists -- Great Britain -- Biography
Another of my occupations was collecting animals of all classes,
briefly describing and roughly dissecting many of the marine ones; but
from not being able to draw, and from not having sufficient anatomical
knowledge, a great pile of MS. which I made during the voyage has
proved almost useless. I thus lost much time, with the exception of
that spent in acquiring some knowledge of the Crustaceans, as this was
of service when in after years I undertook a monograph of the
Cirripedia.
During some part of the day I wrote my Journal, and took much pains in
describing carefully and vividly all that I had seen; and this was good
practice. My Journal served also, in part, as letters to my home, and
portions were sent to England whenever there was an opportunity.
The above various special studies were, however, of no importance
compared with the habit of energetic industry and of concentrated
attention to whatever I was engaged in, which I then acquired.
Everything about which I thought or read was made to bear directly on
what I had seen or was likely to see; and this habit of mind was
continued during the five years of the voyage. I feel sure that it was
this training which has enabled me to do whatever I have done in
science.
Looking backwards, I can now perceive how my love for science gradually
preponderated over every other taste. During the first two years my old
passion for shooting survived in nearly full force, and I shot myself
all the birds and animals for my collection; but gradually I gave up my
gun more and more, and finally altogether, to my servant, as shooting
interfered with my work, more especially with making out the geological
structure of a country. I discovered, though unconsciously and
insensibly, that the pleasure of observing and reasoning was a much
higher one than that of skill and sport. That my mind became developed
through my pursuits during the voyage is rendered probable by a remark
made by my father, who was the most acute observer whom I ever saw, of
a sceptical disposition, and far from being a believer in phrenology;
for on first seeing me after the voyage, he turned round to my sisters,
and exclaimed, “Why, the shape of his head is quite altered.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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