“I have tried lately to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me.”
- February 12, 1809 – April 19, 1882
- Born in England (UK)
- Naturalist, geologist, biologist
- Wrote “On the Origin of Species” and proposed the theory of evolution and natural selection
Quote
“I have tried lately to read Shakespeare, and found it so intolerably dull that it nauseated me.”
Explanation
In this quote, Charles Darwin expresses his personal distaste for the works of Shakespeare, describing them as dull and even nauseating. Darwin, known for his intellectual rigor and focus on scientific inquiry, contrasts with the emotional or artistic engagement that many people find in literature. This statement reveals Darwin’s preferences and his struggle to appreciate the literary world, especially the complexity and dramatic flair of Shakespeare’s plays. His response suggests that his analytical mind, which thrived on logic and empirical evidence, found it difficult to engage with works that rely heavily on emotion, symbolism, and subjectivity.
Historically, Darwin was often more focused on scientific pursuits than on the arts. His interests lay primarily in natural history and the pursuit of knowledge that could be measured, observed, and tested. During his time, literature was seen as an essential part of education, but Darwin’s approach to intellectual life was more grounded in empirical study than in artistic expression. While he had a profound appreciation for the beauty of nature and the intricate patterns of the living world, Shakespeare’s work, with its emotionally-driven plots and complex human character studies, likely seemed remote from the kind of logical systems and scientific observation that dominated his life.
In modern times, this quote can be interpreted as a reminder that personal taste plays a significant role in how we engage with different forms of knowledge or art. Just as modern science often requires specialized thinking, the appreciation of literature or the arts demands a different kind of intellectual engagement—one that can be less comfortable for those trained in the scientific method. Darwin’s discomfort with Shakespeare underscores the diversity of intellectual pursuits and highlights that not every individual will connect with every cultural or artistic form. In a broader sense, this also serves as a reminder that diversity in taste and perspective is a natural part of human experience, much like the biological diversity that Darwin himself studied.
