Skip to content

Many insects stridulate by rubbing together specially modified parts of their hard integuments. This stridulation generally serves as a sexual charm or call; but it is likewise used to express different emotions [...] anger, terror, jealousy, and love.

— Charles Darwin The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)

Another quote →

More quotes by Charles Darwin

I feel most deeply that the whole subject is too profound for the human intellect. A dog might as well speculate on the mind of Newton. Let each man hope and believe what he can.

The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (1887)

As for a future life, every man must judge for himself between conflicting vague probabilities.

The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (1887)

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.

The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (1887)

Even insects express anger, terror, jealousy, and love by their stridulation.

The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)

We are a wretched family, and ought to be exterminated.

The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin (1887)

All Charles Darwin quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Charles Darwin (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.