“My reflection when I first made myself master of the central idea of the Origin was, "How extremely stupid of me not to have thought of that."”

Another version of this quotation, omitting the "of me" phrase, appears in Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley F.R.S (1900) edited by Leonard Huxley, p. 170
1880s, On the Reception of the Origin of Species (1887)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "My reflection when I first made myself master of the central idea of the Origin was, "How extremely stupid of me not to…" by Thomas Henry Huxley?
Thomas Henry Huxley photo
Thomas Henry Huxley 127
English biologist and comparative anatomist 1825–1895

Related quotes

Yukio Mishima photo
Wilhelm Reich photo
George William Russell photo

“When I first discovered for myself how near was the King in His beauty I thought I would be the singer of the happiest songs. Forgive me, Spirit of my spirit, for this, that I have found it easier to read the mystery told in tears and understood Thee better in sorrow than in joy; that, though I would not, I have made the way seem thorny, and have wandered in too many byways, imagining myself into moods which held Thee not.”

George William Russell (1867–1935) Irish writer, editor, critic, poet, and artistic painter

Preface to Collected Poems (1913)
Context: When I first discovered for myself how near was the King in His beauty I thought I would be the singer of the happiest songs. Forgive me, Spirit of my spirit, for this, that I have found it easier to read the mystery told in tears and understood Thee better in sorrow than in joy; that, though I would not, I have made the way seem thorny, and have wandered in too many byways, imagining myself into moods which held Thee not. I should have parted the true from the false, but I have not yet passed away from myself who am in the words of this book. Time is a swift winnower, and that he will do quickly for me.

Jean-François Millet photo
Robert Crumb photo

“Me, me, me…myself & I…oh no!!! Trapped in my stupid self!”

Robert Crumb (1943) American cartoonist

From his sketchbook (28 March 1998), reproduced in The R. Crumb Handbook by Robert Crumb and Peter Poplaski (2005), p. 372
Context: What the hell is this?? Who can tell me?? Does anybody know?? How can I find out more about it?? One thing's sure: the human mind can't "know" it... why does one want to "know"?? Is it a quest for "freedom"? One no longer wishes to be a puppet dancing on the strings of... of what? Animal instincts?? Learned reflexes? Programmed behavior?? Ingrained habits of perception?? How limited are we by the experience of our senses, by our physical nature?? To be fully alive is a stupendous struggle! We want the rewards without the struggle--- ---a fatal error!... No such thing as an easy life! Everybody has a hard time... struggle or die! To find out what's really going on it's necessary to get around the ego.. an art requiring persistent and determined effort... Me, me, me... myself & I... oh no!!! Trapped in my stupid self!

John Cleese photo
Jeanette Winterson photo

“My heart returns to me what I turn away. I am my own master but not always master of myself.”

Jeanette Winterson (1959) English writer

The Powerbook (2000)

Montesquieu photo

“Oh, how empty is praise when it reflects back to its origin!”

Montesquieu (1689–1755) French social commentator and political thinker

No. 50. (Rica writing to * * *)
Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters, 1721)

Gloria Estefan photo
Yukio Mishima photo

Related topics