Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) was an English naturalist who postulated that all species of living things have evolved over time from a common ancestor through a process called natural selection. Author of «The origin of species by means of natural selection «, the bible of evolutionary theory and work developed after real field work, did not use a very scientific method to decide if it would count marriage. His method was more earthy, the typical one of dividing a sheet into two columns with the « pros and cons «:
Here you can see the notes in English. The translation of his notes (some don't make much sense or at least I can't find it):
This is from question
| Marry | Do not marry |
| Children – (God willing) – constant company (and friends in old age) care for you – to be loved and to play with –better than a dog in any case. – A home and someone to take care of the house – enjoy music and talk with the woman. – These things are good for your health. – | No children, (no second life), no one to take care of one in old age.- What is the point of working without the support of close and dear friends? , who are close friends and dear friends in old age, except family. |
| My God, it is intolerable to think of a lifetime working and working, like a bee, and after all, nothing. – No, no, it's not enough. – I imagine living a lifetime alone in a dirty house in London. – Just a picture of a pretty woman with a good fire, books and music – Compare this vision with the sordid reality of Grt. Marlbro’ St. | The freedom to go where you want – the choice of the society (club) you like – Conversation with smart men in clubs – no obligation to visit family or worry about trifles – Waste of time. – Not being able to read at night – fatness and idleness – Anxiety and responsibility – less money for books and other things – if many children forced to work more – (But then it is very bad for health to work too much) |
| Marry – Marry – Marry QED (as demonstrated) | Maybe my wife doesn't like London; then the solution would be banishment and I would look like a fool. |
As shown, according to her notes, the chosen option was to marry her cousin Emma Wedgwood And on the subject of children... they had 10 .
