--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is disturbing to discover in oneself…" description: "\"It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious revelations of the validity of the Darwinian theory. If it is true that we have sprung from the a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/cornelia-otis-skinner-23777_apes_it-is-disturbing-to-discover-in-oneself_2949185.jpg" --- # It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious… ![“It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious revelations of the validity of the Darwinian theory. If it is true that we have sprung from the ape, there are occasions when my own spring appears not to have been very far.” quote by Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/cornelia-otis-skinner-23777_apes_it-is-disturbing-to-discover-in-oneself_2949185.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/cornelia-otis-skinner-23777_apes_it-is-disturbing-to-discover-in-oneself_2949185.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/cornelia-otis-skinner-23777_apes_it-is-disturbing-to-discover-in-oneself_2949185.jpg) > “It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious revelations of the validity of the Darwinian theory. If it is true that we have sprung from the ape, there are occasions when my own spring appears not to have been very far.” [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author is unsettled by the implications of evolution, feeling a personal disconnect from ancestral origins. **In simple terms:** Darwinian theory feels unsettling personally. Key Takeaway Embrace scientific understanding while honoring personal identity. Themes evolution identity existential Mood introspective curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - personal belief - science communication Key Concepts biology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does this affect your self‑view? - Can you find comfort in shared humanity? A Different Perspective Scientific facts can coexist with personal meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious/) [Curious Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curious-revelations-4436489/) [Darwinian Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinian-theory-261765/) [Disturbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbing/) [Disturbing Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbing-discover-4436490/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Occasions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasions/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Curious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-curious-4436491/) [Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelations/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Sprung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sprung/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Validity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validity/) [Validity Darwinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validity-darwinian-2460390/) ## Related quotes > [Throughout the past century there has always existed a significant minority of first-rate biologists who have never been able to bring themselves to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-denton/throughout-the-past-century-there-has-always-existed-a-significant/) [Michael Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-denton/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [“The fundamental core of contemporary Darwinism, the theory of DNA-based reproduction and evolution, is now beyond dispute among scientists. It demonstrates its power every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/the-fundamental-core-of-contemporary-darwinism-the-theory-of-dna/) [Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-c-dennett/) > [What Darwinian theory shows us is that all human races are extremely close to each other. None of them is in any sense ancestral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-darwinian-theory-shows-us-is-that-all-human-races-are-extremely/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [When the theory of evolution destroyed the picture of God as the supreme Creator, confidence in God as the all-powerful Father of man fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/when-the-theory-of-evolution-destroyed-the-picture-of-god-as-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“An important element in the pleasure we derive from social meetings, from travels, from sight-seeings, etc., is nothing but change. Even intellectual pleasure consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/an-important-element-in-the-pleasure-we-derive-from-social-meetings/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [We have long been seeking a different kind of evolutionary process and have now found one; namely, the change within the pattern of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-goldschmidt/we-have-long-been-seeking-a-different-kind-of-evolutionary-process/) [Richard Goldschmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-goldschmidt/) > [“According to Teleology, each organism is like a rifle bullet fired straight at a mark; according to Darwin , organisms are like grapeshot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-henry-huxley/according-to-teleology-each-organism-is-like-a-rifle-bullet-fired/) [Thomas Henry Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-henry-huxley/) > [The classics of Marxism, while fully appreciating the significance of the Darwinian theory, pointed out the errors of which Darwin was guilty. Darwin's theory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trofim-lysenko/the-classics-of-marxism-while-fully-appreciating-the-significance-of/) [Trofim Lysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trofim-lysenko/) > [Nowhere was Darwin able to point to one bona fide case of natural selection having actually generated evolutionary change in nature…Ultimately, the Darwinian theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-denton/nowhere-was-darwin-able-to-point-to-one-bona-fide-case-of-natural/) [Michael Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-denton/) > [I have been scientifically studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so-called,) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-been-scientifically-studying-the-traits-and-dispositions-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [First, Darwinian theory tells us how a certain amount of diversity in life forms can develop once we have various types of complex living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/first-darwinian-theory-tells-us-how-a-certain-amount-of-diversity-in/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [“Before you can ask 'Is Darwinian theory correct or not?', You have to ask the preliminary question 'Is it clear enough so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/before-you-can-ask-is-darwinian-theory-correct-or-not-you-have-to-ask/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [The Darwinian theory is in principle capable of explaining life. No other theory that has ever been suggested is in principle capable of explaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-darwinian-theory-is-in-principle-capable-of-explaining-life-no/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“We need to move beyond Darwinian Theory, which stresses the importance of individuals, to one that stresses the importance of the community. British scientist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-h-lipton/we-need-to-move-beyond-darwinian-theory-which-stresses-the-importance/) [Bruce H. Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-h-lipton/) ## More by Cornelia Otis Skinner > [“My parents took us to dinner but we came back early. Tomorrow was to be a day of days and we must get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/my-parents-took-us-to-dinner-but-we-came-back-early-tomorrow-was-to/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Tragedy can break the heart but not the dam of the tearducts while schmaltz can dissolve the most hardened sophisticate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/tragedy-can-break-the-heart-but-not-the-dam-of-the-tearducts-while/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [The reason for the scaffolding on the tower of Saint Germain-des-Près is that a rich American has purchased it and is having it crated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/the-reason-for-the-scaffolding-on-the-tower-of-saint-germain-des-pr-s/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [“To Mr. Blot, who went through life an unconscious example of the raison d'être of the British Empire, a shipwreck was merely one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/to-mr-blot-who-went-through-life-an-unconscious-example-of-the-raison/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [To cement a new friendship, especially between foreigners or persons of a different social world, a spark with which both were secretly charged must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/to-cement-a-new-friendship-especially-between-foreigners-or-persons/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [The French have no such expression as 'killing time.' In their more philosophical vocabulary the term is 'passing time,' which means savoring all moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/the-french-have-no-such-expression-as-killing-time-in-their-more/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Emily and I have now reached the time in life when not only do we lie about our ages, we forget what we've said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/emily-and-i-have-now-reached-the-time-in-life-when-not-only-do-we-lie/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Women have a special corner of their hearts for sins they have never committed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/women-have-a-special-corner-of-their-hearts-for-sins-they-have-never/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [There are compensations for growing older. One is the realization that to be sporting isn't at all necessary. It is a great relief to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/there-are-compensations-for-growing-older-one-is-the-realization-that/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [There is no English equivalent for the French word flâneur. Cassell's dictionary defines flâneur as a stroller, saunterer, drifter but none of these terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/there-is-no-english-equivalent-for-the-french-word-fl-neur-cassell-s/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Courtesy is fine and heaven knows we need more and more of it in a rude and frenetic world, but mechanized courtesy is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/courtesy-is-fine-and-heaven-knows-we-need-more-and-more-of-it-in-a/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Is man's greatest invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/is-man-s-greatest-invention/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [All I have learned about horses is that they are beautiful overrated creatures and are all born quite insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/all-i-have-learned-about-horses-is-that-they-are-beautiful-overrated/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Public opinion which, to be sure, can at times be helpful, must never for an instant swerve us from what we know in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/public-opinion-which-to-be-sure-can-at-times-be-helpful-must-never/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) > [Woman's virtue is man's greatest invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-otis-skinner/woman-s-virtue-is-man-s-greatest-invention/) [Cornelia Otis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) [Explore all 25 Cornelia Otis Skinner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-otis-skinner/) ## More Apes quotes > [Television's perfect. You turn a few knobs, a few of those mechanical adjustments at which the higher apes are so proficient, and lean back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/television-s-perfect-you-turn-a-few-knobs-a-few-of-those-mechanical/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Battle For The Planet Of The Apes', was just a film for kids and didn't have any deep meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lee-thompson/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-was-just-a-film-for-kids-and-didn-t/) [J. Lee Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lee-thompson/) > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/civilization-is-only-a-pretense-in-the-crisis-we-become-mere-apes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The idea that war should be conducted within a moral framework may seem like a quaint medieval practice, but as speech separates humans from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-war-should-be-conducted-within-a-moral-framework-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I think the problem we have as apes is we're asking far bigger questions than we could possibly process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-think-the-problem-we-have-as-apes-is-we-re-asking-far-bigger/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [We admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realise that we are apes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-admit-that-we-are-like-apes-but-we-seldom-realise-that-we-are-apes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Lower your gaze because you become less of a human every time you stare at a woman and you stare at her like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/lower-your-gaze-because-you-become-less-of-a-human-every-time-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [It was their individuality combined with the shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/it-was-their-individuality-combined-with-the-shyness-of-their/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [Apes had it worked out. No ape would philosophize, "The mountain is, and is not." They would think, "The banana is. I will eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/apes-had-it-worked-out-no-ape-would-philosophize-the-mountain-is-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 444 Apes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious revelations of the validity of the Darwinian theory. 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