780 THE DESCENT OF MAN 



characterized and therefore most attractive women. For 



my own part, I conclude that of all the causes which have 



/■ led. to the differences in external appearance between the 



I races of man, and to a certain extent between man and the 



\ lower animals, sexual selection has been the most fefficient. 



CHAPTEE XXI 



GENEEAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 



Main conclusion that man is descended from some lower form — Manner 

 of development — Genealogy of man — Intellectual and moral faculties 

 — Sexual selection — Concluding remarlss 



A BRIEF summary would be sufficient to recall to the 

 reader's mind the more salient points in this work. 

 Many of the views which have been advanced are 

 highly speculative, and some no doubt will prove erroneous; 

 but I have in every case given the reasons which have led 

 me to one view rather than to another. It seem'ed worth 

 while to try how far the principle of evolution would throw 

 light on some of the more complex problems in the natural 

 history of man. False facts are highly injurious to the 

 progress of science, for they often endure long; but false 

 views, if supported by some evidence, do little harm, for 

 every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their false- 

 ness; and when this is done, one path toward error is closed 

 and the road to trutb is often at the same time opened. 



The main conclusion here arrived at, and now held by 

 many naturalists who are well competent to form a sound 

 judgment, is that man is descended from some less bighly 

 organized form. The grounds upon wMch this conclusion 

 rests will never be shaken, for the close similarity between 

 man and the lower animals in embryonic development, as 

 well as in innumerable points of structure and constitution, 

 both of high and of the most trifling importance — the rudi- 



