Everything in nature is the result of fixed laws.
Charles DarwinRead
When the sexes differ in beauty, in the power of singing, or in producing what I have called instrumental music, it is almost invariably the male which excels the female.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights that in certain traits, such as beauty and musical ability, male members of a species often surpass females.
In this quote, Charles Darwin observes a trend found in various species where males tend to exhibit superior characteristics related to beauty, vocal ability, or instrumental talents compared to females. This phenomenon can be attributed to evolutionary processes, where males may display these traits to attract females or deter rivals, ultimately influencing mating success and species propagation.
Themes
EvolutionSexual SelectionMaleFemaleBeautyTraits
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on evolutionary biology, this quote could illustrate the concept of sexual dimorphism.
More from Charles Darwin
All quotes βThe highest possible stage in moral culture is when we recognize that we ought to control our thoughts.
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I am quite conscious that my speculations run beyond the bounds of true science....It is a mere rag of an hypothesis with as many flaw[s] & holes as sound parts.
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We cannot fathom the marvelous complexity of an organic being; but on the hypothesis here advanced this complexity is much increased. Each living creature must be looked at as a microcosm--a little universe, formed of a host of self-propagating organisms, inconceivably minute and as numerous as the stars in heaven.
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I have called this principle, by which each slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the term of Natural Selection.
Charles DarwinRead
we are always slow in admitting any great change of which we do not see the intermediate steps
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