human things

it is always gratifying to discover that frightening, towering intellects can be human too. before I leave for italy tomorrow (where I shall be for a week, writing my thesis on the ligurian coast), here is one of these splendid discoveries: Charles Darwin, extraordinary thinker & naturalist, responsible for one of the most foundational & unified biological theories of our time, scribbled these hasty thoughts on the pros and cons of marriage:

Marry

Children - (if it Please God) - constant companion, who will feel interested in one (and friend in old age) - object to be beloved and played with - better than a dog anyhow - Home, & someone to take care of house - Classics of music and female chit-chat - These things good for one’s health - (forced to visit and receive relations - [crossed out]) - but terrible loss of time - My God, it is intolerable to think of spending ones whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working, and nothing after all - No, no, won’t do - Imagine living all one’s day solitary in smoky dirty London House - Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire and books and music perhaps - compare this vision with the dingy reality of Great Marlboro Street

Not Marry

Freedom to go where one liked - choice of Society and little of it. Conversation of clever men at clubs - Not forced to visit relatives and bend in every trifle - to have the expense and anxiety of children - perhaps quarrelling - Loss of Time - cannot read in the evenings - fatness and idleness - anxiety and responsibility - less money for books etc - if many children forced to gain one’s bread (But then it is very bad for ones health to work too much.) Perhaps my wife won’t like London; then the sentence is banishment and degradation with indolent, idle fool.

Marry, Marry, Marry Q.E.D.

[crossposted] & thanks to adam for the tip