Quote by Thomas Henry Huxley

A man has no reason to be ashamed of having an ape for his grandfather. If there were an ancestor whom I should feel shame in recalling it would rather be a man who plunges into scientific questions with which he has no real acquaintance, only to obscure them by an aimless rhetoric....

A man has no reason to be ashamed of having an ape for his g

Summary

This quote highlights the speaker's view on the concept of ancestral shame. They argue that there should be no shame in having an ape as a grandfather, as it represents a distant biological connection. However, the real shame lies in individuals who engage in elaborate and purposeless discussions about scientific topics they do not truly understand, employing vague and meaningless rhetoric to hide their lack of knowledge and comprehension. It is a critique of those who use empty language to mask ignorance, suggesting that true understanding and expertise should be valued more than pretentious displays of knowledge.

Topics

Science Inspirational Evolution Darwin Ape

By Thomas Henry Huxley

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