Complex sentence: Huxley's reply to the effect that he would rather be descended from an ape than a man who misused his great talents to suppress debate--the exact wording is not certain--was widely recounted in pamphlets and a spoof play.
Split into simpler sentences: Huxley's reply to the effect that he would rather be descended from an ape than a man who misused his great talents to suppress debate. The exact wording is not certain, but it was widely recounted in pamphlets and a spoof play.