Quote by Havelock Ellis

It is curious how there seems to be an instinctive disgust in Man for his nearest ancestors and relations. If only Darwin could conscientiously have traced man back to the Elephant or the Lion or the Antelope, how much ridicule and prejudice would have been spared to the doctrine of Evolution.

It is curious how there seems to be an instinctive disgust i

Summary

This quote highlights the paradoxical nature of human attitudes towards evolution and their own ancestry. The author suggests that if Charles Darwin had claimed humans were descendants of noble and admired animals like elephants, lions, or antelopes instead of less esteemed creatures, there would have been less backlash and resistance to the theory of evolution. The quote suggests that humans have a primal aversion towards recognizing their common origins with "lesser" animals, leading to ridicule and bias against the idea of evolution.

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By Havelock Ellis

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