Charles Darwin

"One day, on tearing off some old bark, I saw two rare beetles, and seized one in each hand. Then I saw a third and new kind, which I could not bear to lose, so I popped the one which I held in my right hand into my mouth. Alas! it ejected some intensely acrid fluid, which burnt my tongue so that I was forced to spit the beetle out, which was lost, as was the third one."

7 likes

Source: Charles Darwin (2016). “The Autobiography of Charles Darwin: the Evolution”, p.14, VM eBooks

About the author

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin

Naturalist, Geologist

Charles Darwin was a naturalist whose theory of evolution through natural selection, outlined in 'On the Origin of Species', transformed biology.

All quotes by Charles Darwin →

Same author

More quotes by Charles Darwin

See all →
Charles Darwin Naturalist, Geologist

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change, that lives within the means available and works co-operatively against common threats."

Read quote