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James Dwight Dana Quotes

Geologist

James Dwight Dana was a prominent geologist, born on February 12, 1813, and died on April 14, 1895. He made significant contributions to the field of geology, particularly in the areas of petrology and mineralogy.

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Famous James Dwight Dana Quotes

“In using the present in order to reveal the past, we assume that the forces in the world are essentially the same through all time; for these forces are based on the very nature of matter, and could not have changed. The ocean has always had its waves, and those waves have always acted in the same manner. Running water on the land has ever had the same power of wear and transportation and mathematical value to its force. The laws of chemistry, heat, electricity, and mechanics have been the same through time. The plan of living structures has been fundamentally one, for the whole series belongs to one system, as much almost as the parts of an animal to the one body; and the relations of life to light and heat, and to the atmosphere, have ever been the same as now.”

Science Nature Chemistry Geology Natural Forces Uniformitarianism

Book:Manual Of Geology

Source: Manual Of Geology

“Geology is rapidly taking its place as an introduction to the higher history of man. If the author has sought to exalt a favorite science, it has been with the desire that man-in whom geological history had its consummation, the prophecies of the successive ages their fulfilment-might better comprehend his own nobility and the true purpose of his existence.”

Ifs Men Has Beens Might Age Science Desire Purpose Existence History Higher Prophecy Nobility Introduction Geology Fulfilment True Purpose

Book:Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science, with Special Reference to American Geological History, for the Use of Colleges, Academies, and Schools of Science

Source: Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science, with Special Reference to American Geological History, for the Use of Colleges, Academies, and Schools of Science

“Some writers, rejecting the idea which science had reached, that reefs of rocks could be due in any way to "animalcules," have talked of electrical forces, the first and last appeal of ignorance.”

Way Firsts Ideas Lasts Science Force Rocks Ignorance Accounts Dues Ignorant Appeals Electrical Rejecting Reefs Firsts And Lasts

Book:Corals and Coral Islands

Source: Corals and Coral Islands

“There can be no real conflict between the two Books of the Great Author. Both are revelations made by Him to man,-the earlier telling of God-made harmonies coming up from the deep past, and rising to their height when man appeared, the later teaching man's relations to his Maker, and speaking of loftier harmonies in the eternal future.”

Men Made Two Book Real Past Science Teaching Future Conflict Eternal Relation Harmony Height Rising Revelations Makers Great Author

Book:Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science with Special Reference to American Geological History

Source: Manual of Geology: Treating of the Principles of the Science with Special Reference to American Geological History

“Science, while it penetrates deeply the system of things about us, sees everywhere, in the dim limits of vision, the word mystery.”

Science Vision Mystery Limits Accounts Penetrate

Book:Corals and Coral Islands

Source: Corals and Coral Islands

“A map of the moon... should be in every geological lecture room; for no where can we have a more complete or more magnificent illustration of volcanic operations. Our sublimest volcanoes would rank among the smaller lunar eminences; and our Etnas are but spitting furnaces.”

Should Science Rooms Moon Operations Maps Magnificent Lectures Illustration Volcanoes Furnaces Eminence

Author:James Dwight Dana