Seen in either geological or biological terms, we don't warrant attention as individuals. One of us doesn't differ that much from another, each generation repeats its parents, the works we build to outlast us are not much more enduring than anthills, and much less so than coral reefs.
The passage reflects on the insignificance of individual human life in both geological and biological contexts. It suggests that each person is largely similar to the next, with generations repeating the patterns of their predecessors, implying a cyclical nature to existence that diminishes individuality.
Furthermore, the author compares human creations to natural structures, noting that human efforts to create lasting legacies are ultimately fleeting, akin to anthills, while nature’s own constructs, like coral reefs, endure far longer. This perspective emphasizes the ephemeral quality of human achievements in contrast to the enduring power of the natural world.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
