The last week or so I have been studying for comprehensive exams I will take in September. This involves skimming through a very large list of books. Today I am reading ecological anthropology tomes and I found an interesting tidbit in Evolutionary Ecology and Human Behavior (ed. Smith and Winterhalder). Apparently when Charles Darwin (you know, the natural selection guy) was 29 in 1838 he was contemplating marriage. He wrote down a few thoughts on a scrap of paper:
Marry
Children - constant companion, who will feel interested in one (a friend in old age) - object to be beloved and played with - better than a dog anyhow - someone to take care of house - unthinkable to think of spending one's whole life, like a neuter bee, working - nice soft wife on a sofa with a good fire.
Not Marry
Conversation of clever men at clubs - Not forced to visit relatives - the expense and anxiety of children - perhaps quarrelling - terrible loss of time - cannot read in the Evenings - fatness and idleness - less money for books - if many children forced to gain one's bread.
Isn't that hilarious? Darwin did marry and hopefully she was nice and soft and they had a good fire.
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