***
The choice seems clear to me.
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.
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4 comments:
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.
... 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."
Post-marriage addendum (added 26 December, 1938):
- For future reference: study evolutionary merits of inbreeding.
I highly recommend marriage, but I'm completely biased and have a wonderful marriage and daughter!
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