Final answer:
Darwin's quote about hating barnacles likely refers to the elaborate and painstaking work required to study these creatures, which was part of his considerable research that led to the theory of natural selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Charles Darwin said he hated a barnacle as no man ever did before, not even a sailor in a slow sailing ship, he was likely referring to the tedious and meticulous work involved in studying these organisms. Darwin spent many years dedicated to research, examining and organizing various specimens.
His detailed examination of barnacles required careful observation and was just one part of his broader scientific inquiries, which eventually led to his theory of natural selection based on the incredible diversity of species he observed during his travels on the HMS Beagle, which included endemic species on the Galápagos Islands. This intense study exemplifies not just his commitment to science but also the often painstaking process of collecting and analyzing data that underpins significant scientific discoveries.