Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
Will Durant (1926). The Story of Philosophy.
Well, maybe it's Will Durant's quote and maybe it isn't. Faithful reader Peter Blau says this quote is definitely not from the Story of Philosophy.
However, Peter reports that T. F. Mills, a contributor to the "Stumpers" mailing list, offers something of interest:
In Will and Ariel Durant's "Lessons of History" (Simon & Schuster 1968), chapter 2 ("History and the Earth") is devoted to this theme, but the exact wording of this particular quote is not there. Some samples:
"At any moment a comet may come too close to the earth and set our little globe turning topsy-turvy in a hectic course, or choke its men and fleas with fumes or heat; or a fragment of the smiling sun may slip off tangentially -- as some think our planet did a few astronomic moments ago--and fall upon us in a wild embrace ending all grief and pain. We accept these possibilities in our stride, and retort to the cosmos in the words of Pascal: 'When the universe has crushed him man will still be nobler than that which kills him, because he knows that he is dying, and of its victory the universe knows nothing.'"
"To the geologic eye all the surface of the earth is a fluid form, and man moves upon it as insecurely as Peter walking on the waves to Christ."
He concludes the chapter with "Man, not the earth, makes civilization."
More suggestions include Vladimir I. Vernadsky or Teilhard de Chardin (from Douglas Frink) and Jack Kilmon suggests that it might have been an off-the-cuff remark of Durant's at a lecture. Mark L. Anderson suggests H.G. Wells might be the quipper. I did find one listing on the Internet (but now we know how dependable that is) that suggested geologist George F. Demko was the author. Also, columnist George Will comes close in a (2003) review of Simon Winchester's Krakatoa when he says "Geology has joined biology in lowering mankind's self-esteem. Geology suggests how mankind's existence is contingent on the geological consent of the planet. Although the planet is hospitable for the moment, it is indifferent -- eventually it will be lethally indifferent -- to its human passengers." That clearly post-dates the quote I found in 1998.
Probably the best answer, at this point anyway, is to credit that prolific author Anonymous.
More Archaeology Quick Tips
Will Durant (1926). The Story of Philosophy.
Well, maybe it's Will Durant's quote and maybe it isn't. Faithful reader Peter Blau says this quote is definitely not from the Story of Philosophy.
However, Peter reports that T. F. Mills, a contributor to the "Stumpers" mailing list, offers something of interest:
In Will and Ariel Durant's "Lessons of History" (Simon & Schuster 1968), chapter 2 ("History and the Earth") is devoted to this theme, but the exact wording of this particular quote is not there. Some samples:
"At any moment a comet may come too close to the earth and set our little globe turning topsy-turvy in a hectic course, or choke its men and fleas with fumes or heat; or a fragment of the smiling sun may slip off tangentially -- as some think our planet did a few astronomic moments ago--and fall upon us in a wild embrace ending all grief and pain. We accept these possibilities in our stride, and retort to the cosmos in the words of Pascal: 'When the universe has crushed him man will still be nobler than that which kills him, because he knows that he is dying, and of its victory the universe knows nothing.'"
"To the geologic eye all the surface of the earth is a fluid form, and man moves upon it as insecurely as Peter walking on the waves to Christ."
He concludes the chapter with "Man, not the earth, makes civilization."
More suggestions include Vladimir I. Vernadsky or Teilhard de Chardin (from Douglas Frink) and Jack Kilmon suggests that it might have been an off-the-cuff remark of Durant's at a lecture. Mark L. Anderson suggests H.G. Wells might be the quipper. I did find one listing on the Internet (but now we know how dependable that is) that suggested geologist George F. Demko was the author. Also, columnist George Will comes close in a (2003) review of Simon Winchester's Krakatoa when he says "Geology has joined biology in lowering mankind's self-esteem. Geology suggests how mankind's existence is contingent on the geological consent of the planet. Although the planet is hospitable for the moment, it is indifferent -- eventually it will be lethally indifferent -- to its human passengers." That clearly post-dates the quote I found in 1998.
Probably the best answer, at this point anyway, is to credit that prolific author Anonymous.
