Neither did the actual precursors of Darwin in the statement of
the principle--Wells, Matthews and Prichard--possess any adequate
knowledge of the class of facts above referred to, or sufficient
antecedent interest in the problem itself, which were both needed
in order to perceive the application of the principle to the mode
of development of the varied forms of life.
And now, to recur to my own position, I may be allowed to make a
final remark. I have long since come to see that no one deserves
either praise or blame for the _ideas_ that come to him, but only
for the actions resulting therefrom. Ideas and beliefs are
certainly not voluntary acts. They come to us--we hardly know
_how_ or _whence_, and once they have got possession of us we
cannot reject or change them at will. It is for the common good
that the promulgation of ideas should be free--uninfluenced either
by praise or blame, reward or punishment.
But the _actions_ which result from our ideas may properly be so
treated, because it is only by patient thought and work that new
ideas, if good and true, become adapted and utilised; while if
untrue, or if not adequately presented to the world, they are
rejected or forgotten.
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