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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

"The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals"

Again, there are other emotions,
such as that of affection, which do not commonly lead to action of any kind,
and consequently are not exhibited by any strongly marked outward signs.
Affection indeed, in as far as it is a pleasurable sensation,
excites the ordinary signs of pleasure.
On the other hand, many of the effects due to the excitement
of the nervous system seem to be quite independent
of the flow of nerve-force along the channels which have
been rendered habitual by former exertions of the will.
Such effects, which often reveal the state of mind of the person
thus affected, cannot at present be explained; for instance,
the change of colour in the hair from extreme terror or grief,--
the cold sweat and the trembling of the muscles from fear,--
the modified secretions of the intestinal canal,--and the failure
of certain glands to act.
Notwithstanding that much remains unintelligible in our present subject,
so many expressive movements and actions can be explained to a certain
extent through the above three principles, that we may hope hereafter
to see all explained by these or by closely analogous principles.
Actions of all kinds, if regularly accompanying any state
of the mind, are at once recognized as expressive.


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