Charles Darwin and I and you broke off from the family tree from chimpanzees about five million years ago. They're still our closest genetic kin. We share 98.8 percent of the genes. We share more genes with them than zebras do with horses. And we're also their closest cousin. They have more genetic relation to us than to gorillas.

Charles Darwin could not have set up a better genetic re-assortment laboratory if he tried.

Celui qui n'évolue pas disparaît.

I would far rather burn my whole book, than that he or any other man should think i behaved in a paltry manner (Charles Darwin)

There were still few rules at Down House, and Charles was not very good at enforcing the ones he and Emma did make. This was well known among his children. In 1855, when Lenny was about five, Charles walked in to find his son jumping up and down and tumbling all over a new sofa.

'Oh Lenny, Lenny,' Charles said. 'You know it is against all rules.'

'Then,' Lenny said to his papa, 'I think you'd better go out of the room.'

And so Charles did.

We don’t want to be the conquistadors. We want to be Charles Darwin.