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Charles Darwin (1809-1882) is one of the most influential scientists of all time. His 1859 book On the Origin of Species, which outlined his theory of "natural selection," is widely hailed as the starting point for evolutionary biology as we study it today. We now know that all living organisms adapt to their environments in order to survive and evolve, and that's thanks to Darwin's pioneering work in the 19th century.
Some 140 years after his death, Darwin remains an iconic name who was portrayed by Paul Bettany in the 2009 movie Creation and voted the fourth greatest Briton ever in a 2002 BBC poll. Like many illustrious historical figures, Darwin is widely misquoted: several famous sayings attributed to him never actually came from his lips or pen. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of some wise and insightful things that he definitely did say, about life, science, and fatherhood.
"A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life." Letter to his sister, 1936
"If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week." The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, 1809–82
"I quite agree how humiliating the slow progress of man is; but everyone has his own pet horror…" Letter to fellow scientist J.D. Hooker
"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge." The Descent of Man
"Man selects only for his own good; nature only for that of the being which she tends." On the Origin of Species

"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
"How paramount the future is to the present, when one is surrounded by children." Letter to second cousin W.D. Fox, 1852
"I believe there exists an instinct for truth... and that our having such an instinct is reason enough for scientific researches without any practical results ever ensuing from them." Letter to fellow scientist St. George Jackson Mivart, 1860
"I demur to your saying that animals are governed only by selfish motives. Look at the maternal instincts and still more at the social instincts. How unselfish is a dog!" Letter to fellow scientist Neil Arnott, 1860
"My children, thank God, are all well, and one gets, as one grows older, to care more for them than for anything in this world." Letter to personal assistant Syms Covington, 1856
All quotes are sourced from Newsweek, Goodreads, and Darwin Correspondence Project.
Do you find his words inspirational?