The Secret of Harmonious Living

During these five years Darwin had the opportunity to visit a number of different countries, sometimes on foot and sometimes on horseback, he penetrated far into their interiors. As he explored their jungles and climbed their mountains, he made a study of thousands of varieties of plants and animals, and collected samples to take back with him. He also collected the fossils of various animals which had been preserved intact underground. The observations he made during his travels helped him to establish certain theories about the different species of animals. The most important was the theory that, although animals differ from each other as species, they have certain features in common, such as their adaptation to their environment. It was this initial observation which, after detailed research, took the shape of Darwin's theory of evolution. There is a lesson to be learnt from Darwin's life in that it shows how elders' appreciation and encouragement of young people's talents can act as a great spur to their progress and ultimate success. In any society where the eminent display such sentiments towards struggling individuals of obvious merit, it is society as a whole which will be the beneficiary. But where elders are uninterested in sterling human qualities and are willing to listen only to sycophants, the talents of highly endowed individuals will be left to wither away for want of encouragement. A society composed of such elders will never scale the heights of true progress. There is another incident in Darwin's life which is quite admirable in the example that it sets. It seems that he wrote down his views on natural selection in 1852 and in 1858. While his own theories were yet to be published, he received a letter from Alfred Wallace outlining an unpublished article of his which, in substance, was identical with Darwin's own work.