Why was Charles Darwin initially hesitant to share his findings with the public?

Charles Darwin was initially hesitant to share his findings with the public for several reasons:

1. Fear of Ridicule and Rejection: Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was a radical idea at the time. He was aware that his findings contradicted the widely accepted view of creation as stated in the Bible. He feared ridicule and rejection from both the scientific community and the public.

2. Lack of Evidence: Although Darwin had a substantial amount of observational data from his voyage on the Beagle, he wanted to gather more supporting evidence before presenting his theory to the scientific community.

3. Personal Health: Darwin suffered from various health issues throughout his life, which often interrupted his work. His ill health could have contributed to his hesitation in publishing his theory.

4. Impact on Family: Darwin was also concerned about the impact his controversial theory might have on his family, particularly his devoutly religious wife, Emma.

5. Need for Peer Review: Darwin valued the opinions of his scientific peers and wanted to ensure his theory was sound before presenting it to the public. He spent many years refining his ideas and gathering feedback from his colleagues before finally publishing "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.