Thursday, November 20, 2008

To marry or not to marry? from Charles Darwin's journals

Marry Children (if it Please God) Constant companion (and friend in old age) who will feel interested in one Object to be beloved and played with. Better than a dog anyhow Charms of music and female chit-chat 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 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.
***
The choice seems clear to me.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Apparently, the choice seemed clear to Darwin as well. He wrote that list of pros and cons in July of 1838. He was married in January of 1839.

Anonymous said...

... to his cousin.

Addendum to list of cons (added December, 1938):

- Awkwardness felt when trying to decide whether to call your in-laws "Auntie and Uncle" or "Mother and Father."

Anonymous said...

Post-marriage addendum (added 26 December, 1938):

- For future reference: study evolutionary merits of inbreeding.

Elleah said...

I highly recommend marriage, but I'm completely biased and have a wonderful marriage and daughter!