Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature quotes
The lines readers remember from Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature, by Thomas Henry Huxley.
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Standout lines
Ancient traditions, when tested by the severe processes of modern investigation, commonly enough fade away into mere dreams: but it is singular how often the dream turns out to have been a half-waking one, presaging a reality.
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Fig. 7.—the Pongo Skull, Sent by Radermacher to Camper, After Camper's Original Sketches, As Reproduced by Lucae. Fig. 8.—gibbon ('h. Pileatus'), After Wolf. Fig. 9. An Adult Male Orang-utan, After Muller And Schlegel. Fig. 10.—the Gorilla (after Wolff). Fig. 11.—gorilla Walking (after Wolff).
Ancient traditions, when tested by the severe processes of modern investigation, commonly enough fade away into mere dreams: but it is singular how often the dream turns out to have been a half-waking one, presaging a reality.
Ovid foreshadowed the discoveries of the geologist: the Atlantis was an imagination, but Columbus found a western world:
Ovid foreshadowed the discoveries of the geologist: the Atlantis was an imagination, but Columbus found a western world
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Ancient traditions, when tested by the severe processes of modern investigation, commonly enough fade away into mere dreams: but it is singular how often the dream turns out to have been a half-waking one, presaging a reality.
Ovid foreshadowed the discoveries of the geologist: the Atlantis was an imagination, but Columbus found a western world
:
There was certainly something more than instinct in that action: he evidently betrayed a consciousness of having done wrong both by his first and last actions—and what is reason if that is not an exercise of it?
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When he had walked half the length of the cabin, I spoke quietly, without frightening him. The instant he found I saw him, he walked back again, and deposited the soap nearly in the same place from whence he had taken it.
There was certainly something more than instinct in that action: he evidently betrayed a consciousness of having done wrong both by his first and last actions—and what is reason if that is not an exercise of it?
"
As he took aim, she motioned with her hand, precisely in the manner of a human being, to have him desist and go away.
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"In a recent case, the mother, when discovered, remained upon the tree with her offspring, watching intently the movements of the hunter.
As he took aim, she motioned with her hand, precisely in the manner of a human being, to have him desist and go away.
When the wound has not proved instantly fatal, they have been known to stop the flow of blood by pressing with the hand upon the part, and when this did not succeed, to apply leaves and grass....
They are tales told to children.
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Mr. Ford discredits the house-building and elephant-driving stories, and says that no well-informed natives believe them.
They are tales told to children.
I might quote other testimony to a similar effect, but, as it appears to me, less carefully weighed and sifted, from the letters of MM. Franquet and Gautier Laboullay, appended to the memoir of M. I. G. St. Hilaire, which I have already cited.
It may be truth, but it is not evidence.
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nor from any wish to throw suspicion on his veracity; but because, in my opinion, so long as his narrative remains in its present state of unexplained and apparently inexplicable confusion, it has no claim to original authority respecting any subject whatsoever.
It may be truth, but it is not evidence.
All quotes
ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MAN-LIKE APES
Ancient traditions, when tested by the severe processes of modern investigation, commonly enough fade away into mere dreams: but it is singular how often the dream turns out to have been a half-waking one, presaging a reality.
Show the passage
Fig. 7.—the Pongo Skull, Sent by Radermacher to Camper, After Camper's Original Sketches, As Reproduced by Lucae. Fig. 8.—gibbon ('h. Pileatus'), After Wolf. Fig. 9. An Adult Male Orang-utan, After Muller And Schlegel. Fig. 10.—the Gorilla (after Wolff). Fig. 11.—gorilla Walking (after Wolff).
Ancient traditions, when tested by the severe processes of modern investigation, commonly enough fade away into mere dreams: but it is singular how often the dream turns out to have been a half-waking one, presaging a reality.
Ovid foreshadowed the discoveries of the geologist: the Atlantis was an imagination, but Columbus found a western world:
Ovid foreshadowed the discoveries of the geologist: the Atlantis was an imagination, but Columbus found a western world
Show the passage
Ancient traditions, when tested by the severe processes of modern investigation, commonly enough fade away into mere dreams: but it is singular how often the dream turns out to have been a half-waking one, presaging a reality.
Ovid foreshadowed the discoveries of the geologist: the Atlantis was an imagination, but Columbus found a western world
:
Once in a generation, a Wallace may be found physically, mentally, and morally qualified to wander unscathed through the tropical wilds of America and of Asia
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Sound knowledge respecting the habits and mode of life of the man-like Apes has been even more difficult of attainment than correct information regarding their structure.
Once in a generation, a Wallace may be found physically, mentally, and morally qualified to wander unscathed through the tropical wilds of America and of Asia
; to form magnificent collections as he wanders; and withal to think out sagaciously the conclusions suggested by his collections:
There was certainly something more than instinct in that action: he evidently betrayed a consciousness of having done wrong both by his first and last actions—and what is reason if that is not an exercise of it?
Show the passage
When he had walked half the length of the cabin, I spoke quietly, without frightening him. The instant he found I saw him, he walked back again, and deposited the soap nearly in the same place from whence he had taken it.
There was certainly something more than instinct in that action: he evidently betrayed a consciousness of having done wrong both by his first and last actions—and what is reason if that is not an exercise of it?
"
As he took aim, she motioned with her hand, precisely in the manner of a human being, to have him desist and go away.
Show the passage
"In a recent case, the mother, when discovered, remained upon the tree with her offspring, watching intently the movements of the hunter.
As he took aim, she motioned with her hand, precisely in the manner of a human being, to have him desist and go away.
When the wound has not proved instantly fatal, they have been known to stop the flow of blood by pressing with the hand upon the part, and when this did not succeed, to apply leaves and grass....
They are tales told to children.
Show the passage
Mr. Ford discredits the house-building and elephant-driving stories, and says that no well-informed natives believe them.
They are tales told to children.
I might quote other testimony to a similar effect, but, as it appears to me, less carefully weighed and sifted, from the letters of MM. Franquet and Gautier Laboullay, appended to the memoir of M. I. G. St. Hilaire, which I have already cited.
It may be truth, but it is not evidence.
Show the passage
nor from any wish to throw suspicion on his veracity; but because, in my opinion, so long as his narrative remains in its present state of unexplained and apparently inexplicable confusion, it has no claim to original authority respecting any subject whatsoever.
It may be truth, but it is not evidence.
FOOTNOTES:
Mr. Wallace provided his interesting charge with an artificial mother of buffalo-skin, but the cheat was too successful.
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19 (return) [ See Mr. Wallace's account of an infant "Orang-utan," in the 'Annals of Natural History' for 1856.
Mr. Wallace provided his interesting charge with an artificial mother of buffalo-skin, but the cheat was too successful.
The infant's entire experience led it to associate teats with hair, and feeling the latter, it spent its existence in vain endeavours to discover the former.]
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