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Physiological experiment on animals is justifiable for real investigation; but not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity.

— Charles Darwin

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Source, in full

letter to E. Ray Lankester, quoted in his essay "Charles Robert Darwin" in C.D. Warner, editor, Library of the World's Best Literature: Ancient and Modern (R.S. Peale & J.A. Hill, New York, 1896) volume 2, pages 4835-4393, at page 4391

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Curiosity

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)

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Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

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My brain, otherwise a sound instrument, has a serious defect—a hypertrophied lobe of curiosity.

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Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.

James Stephens

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.