Charles Darwin and How to Fix Valentine's Day

cute

He scribbled down the benefits of remaining single, which included, among other things:

• “Not forced to visit relatives, & to bend in every trifle.”

• “Conversation of clever men at clubs”

• “Choice of Society & little of it”

• “Freedom to go where one liked”

• [The avoidance of] “the expense & anxiety of children”

On that same piece of paper, he wrote of the rewards of marriage:

• “Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one”

• “Object to be beloved & played with”

• “Better than a dog anyhow”

• “Home, & someone to take care of house”

• “Charms of music & female chit-chat”

[…]

By the way, Charles Darwin had an exceedingly happy marriage, by all accounts, and had ten children.