How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man! how short his time! and consequently how poor will his products be, compared with those accumulated by nature during whole geological periods. Can we wonder, then, that nature's productions should be far 'truer' in character than man's productions; that they should be infinitely better adapted to the most complex conditions of life, and should plainly bear the stamp of far higher workmanship?


On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (ed. 1866)


How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man! how short his time! and consequently how poor will his products be, compared with those accumulated...

How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man! how short his time! and consequently how poor will his products be, compared with those accumulated...

How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man! how short his time! and consequently how poor will his products be, compared with those accumulated...

How fleeting are the wishes and efforts of man! how short his time! and consequently how poor will his products be, compared with those accumulated...