I have steadily endeavoured to keep my mind free so as to give up any hypothesis, however much beloved (and I cannot resist forming one on every subject), as soon as facts are shown to be opposed to it.
Where these words come from
- 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- Autobiographical recollections, edited by Francis Darwin in The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin; Read editorial preface and extended concluding self-assessment including paragraph on hypotheses and subsequent qualifications about excessive scepticism. Preserves parenthetical qualification. Origin
- Autobiographical recollections, edited by Francis Darwin in The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin
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See allIt may turn out a mare’s nest, but I have often incidentally observed curious facts when making what I call “a fool’s experiment”.
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