Experience: Curiosity

On the Origin of Species presents a constant stream of world and character riddles: an island with conflicting histories; a cold-blooded schoolmistress warmed by a passionate heart; a cautious captain who's up for anything (Fletcher 93). "How strange is it that a bird, under the form of woodpecker, should have been created to prey on insects on the ground; that upland geese, which never or rarely swim, should have been created with webbed feet." "When on board H.M.S. "Beagle," as a naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts [that] seemed to me to throw some light on the origin of species--that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers.

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die--though I'd had reason enough for the last few months--but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this."

"I was just fitting my key into the door when I noticed a man at my elbow. "Pardon," he said, "I'm a bit rattled tonight. You see, I happen at this moment to be dead."

"I am going to tell the strangest story that I remember. It may seem a queer thing to say, especially considering that there's no woman in it--except Foulata. Stop, though! there is Gagaoola, if she was a woman, and not a fiend. But she was a hundred at least, and therefore not marriageable, so I don't count her."

"But of all the British kings, I've heard tell that Arthur was the most noble. And so I will show you something that's astonished the eyes of many, an outrageous adventure of knightly wonder, and if you will listen to my song for oh just a little, I will tell it as I heard it in town."

"Listen to my words, you who want to know; by my mouth you will learn the history of Mali. By my mouth you will get to know the story"