The evolution of man: a popular exposition of the principal points of human ontogeny and phylogenyFrom the German of Ernst Haeckel . mostvaried and remarkable processes, is,even, one of the most importantmechanical causes of the highestdifferentiation in life ;—if we considerthis, we cannot over-estimate this re-tracing of love to its primitivesource, to the power of attraction be-tween two differing cells. Every-where throughout animated nature Fig. 315.—Longitudinal section through aHaliphysema {Gastrceada) The egg-cells (e) areenlarged epithelial cells of the entoderm ((/),and lie freely in
The evolution of man: a popular exposition of the principal points of human ontogeny and phylogenyFrom the German of Ernst Haeckel . mostvaried and remarkable processes, is,even, one of the most importantmechanical causes of the highestdifferentiation in life ;—if we considerthis, we cannot over-estimate this re-tracing of love to its primitivesource, to the power of attraction be-tween two differing cells. Every-where throughout animated nature Fig. 315.—Longitudinal section through aHaliphysema {Gastrceada) The egg-cells (e) areenlarged epithelial cells of the entoderm ((/),and lie freely in the primitive intestinal cavity(cZ): m, mouth-opening ; /!,exoderm. the greatest results proceed from this most insignificantcause. It is only necessary to think of the part played innature by the flowers, the reproductive organ of floweringplants; or of the multitude of wonderful phenomenacaused by sexual selection in animal life; or, finally, of theimportant influence exerted by love on human life : the coa-lescence of two cells is everywhere the single, originalimpelling motive; everywhere this apparently trivial pro-. 394 THE EVOLUTION OF MAN. cess exerts the greatest influence on the development of themost varied circumstances. We may, indeed, assert, thatno other organic process can be, even remotely, compared tothis in extent and intensity of differentiating effect. Foris not the Semitic myth of Eve, who seduced Adam toknowledge, and is not the old Greek legend of Paris andHelen, and are not very many other famous fictions, merelythe poetical expression of the immeasurable , whichlove, in connection with sexual selection, ^^ has exerted,ever since the differentiation of the two sexes, on the pro-gress of the worlds history ? All other passions that agitatethe human breast are in their combined effects far lesspowerful than love, which inflames the senses and fools theunderstanding. On the one hand, we gratefully glorify loveas the source of the most splend
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