Darwin var genial som observatör. Hans Galapagos låg inte bara i Stilla Havet utan mer i den trädgård och skog som omgav hans herrgård i Downe. Där, under 40 år, i det fria, hade han sitt verkliga laboratorium. Naturens grymhet störde honom. Övervägde den rentav lyckan? I så fall, hur skulle livet förstås? I sin självbiografi, aldrig avsedd för andra än barn och barnbarn, därför offentligjordes den inte fullständigt förrän 1958, skrev Darwin, att för honom övervägde lyckan:
... Some writers indeed are so much impressed with the amount of suffering in the world, that they doubt if we look to all sentient beings, whether there is more of misery or of happiness;—whether the world as a whole is a good or a bad one.
According to my judgment happiness decidedly prevails, though this would be very difficult to prove. If the truth of this conclusion be granted, it harmonises well with the effects which we might expect from natural selection.
If all the individuals of any species were habitually to suffer to an extreme degree they would neglect to propagate their kind; but we have no reason to believe that this has ever or at least often occurred. Some other considerations, moreover, lead to the belief that all sentient beings have been formed so as to enjoy, as a general rule, happiness.
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