Quote#Nature
The comparison here implied between the actions of one of the higher…
Quote byCharles Darwin · 1809–1882
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms (1881), Chapter 1: Habits of Worms, pp. 24-25..
English (original)
The comparison here implied between the actions of one of the higher animals and of one so low in the scale as an earth-worm, may appear far-fetched; for we thus attribute to the worm attention and some mental power, nevertheless I can see no reason to doubt the justice of the comparison.
— Charles Darwin
More from Charles Darwin
[T]he young and the old of widely different races, both with man and animals, express the same state of mind by the same movements.
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Even insects express anger, terror, jealousy, and love by their stridulation.
Through the principle of associated habit, the same movements of the face and eyes are practised, and can, indeed, hardly be avoided, whenever we know or believe that others are blaming, or too strongly praising, our moral conduct.
The subject may appear an insignificant one, but we shall see that it possesses some interest; and the maxim "de minimis lex non curat," does not apply to science.