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Charles Darwin (12 Feb 1809 - 19 Apr 1882) English naturalist who presented facts to support his theory of the mode of evolution whereby favourable variations would survive which he called 'Natural Selection' or 'Survival of the Fittest.' Short biography of Charles Darwin >>

Charles Darwin Quote

“Improving…a young naturalist”

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HMS Beagle in the seaways of Terra del Fuego, painting by Conrad Martens. (source)

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“Nothing can be more improving to a young naturalist, than a journey in a distant country.”

— Charles Darwin

In Journal of Researches (1839).

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Context of Charles Darwin’s quote on “Improving…a Young Naturalist”

After returning from his famous voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle, as the ship's naturalist for Captain Robert FitzRoy, Charles Darwin and the Captain wrote of their experiences in a three-volume series of books. Captain FitzRoy wrote the first two volumes, which include his report on the ship's hydrographic survey, meteorological records and some amateur naturalist contributions.

Darwin described his extensive observations in the third volume, which was subsequently reprinted through many years under a variety of titles, including Journal of Researches and the most familiar, The Voyage of the Beagle. In his later Autobiography, he stated that “the voyage of the Beagle has been by far the most important event in my life, and has determined my whole career.”

In his first published volume, the Journal of Researches, Darwin wrote extensively not only on the great variety of flora and fauna, but also the geology of the regions that he visited. The work remains captivating reading to the present day. It is no wonder that in the conclusion of his book, Darwin portrays his enduring excitement about his five years of travel by recommending the experience to any young man:

Thus, in his final words of his last chapter, Darwin's thoughts are not just about the novel things he saw in other parts of the world, but he pays his lasting respect to the people he met along the way.

More quotes on | Evolution | Improvement | Journey | Misery | Naturalist |

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