भूविज्ञान में हम अटकलों के बिना नहीं चल सकते: [लेकिन] चूँकि हम कल्पनाएँ करने के लिए अभिशप्त हैं, इसलिए हमें यह सुनिश्चित करना चाहिए कि हमारी कल्पनाएँ किसी समझदार व्यक्ति जैसी हों—यानी वे सच्चाई पर आधारित हों—ना कि किसी बीमार व्यक्ति की अजीबोगरीब और प्राकृतिक नियमों के विपरीत अवास्तविक कल्पनाओं जैसी।
In geology we cannot dispense with conjectures: [but] because we are condemned to dream let us ensure that our dreams are like those of sane men-e.g. that they have their foundations in truth-and are not like the dreams of the sick, formed by strange combinations of phantasms, contrary to nature and therefore incredible.
In geology we cannot dispense with conjectures: [but] because we are condemned to dream let us ensure that our dreams are like those of sane men-e.g. that they have their foundations in truth-and are not like the dreams of the sick, formed by strange combinations of phantasms, contrary to nature and therefore incredible.