Quote by Erasmus Darwin
Birth after birth the line unchanging runs,And fathers live transmitted in their sons;Each passing year beholds the unvarying kinds,The same their manners, and the same their minds:Till, as erelong successive buds decay,And insect-shoals successive pass away,Increasing wants the pregnant parent vexWith the fond wish to form a softer sex. ..
Summary
This quote by Edward Young reflects the cyclical nature of life and the transmission of traits and characteristics from one generation to the next. It emphasizes the repetitive patterns in human existence, where fathers are mirrored in their sons and each passing year witnesses the same behaviors and ways of thinking. The comparison to the passing of buds and insects suggests the transient nature of life. Furthermore, the quote touches upon the desire of parents to shape a different gender, indicating the drive for variety and change amidst this seemingly unchanging cycle.