and so judge of the part played by each of them during those old convulsive movements whereby her limbs were contorted and drawn up into their present posture.
ADAM SEDGWICKConsidered as a mere question of physics, (and keeping all moral considerations entirely out of sight,) the appearance of man is a geological phenomenon of vast importance
More Adam Sedgwick Quotes
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The pretended physical philosophy of modern days strips Man of all his moral attributes
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The sober facts of geology shuffled, so as to play a rogue’s game; phrenology (that sinkhole of human folly and prating coxcombry); spontaneous generation; transmutation of species; and I know not what; all to be swallowed, without tasting and trying
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A cold atheistical materialism is the tendency of the so-called material philosophy of the present day.
ADAM SEDGWICK -
we may then see the muscular integuments, and sinews, and bones of our mother Earth,
ADAM SEDGWICK -
The utmost movements that he allows are a slight quivering of her muscular integuments.
ADAM SEDGWICK -
Indirectly modifying the whole surface of the earth, breaking in upon any supposition of zoological continuity, and utterly unaccounted for by what we have any right to call the laws of nature.
ADAM SEDGWICK -
Yet Mr. Lyell will admit no greater paroxysms than we ourselves have witnessed-no periods of feverish spasmodic energy, during which the very framework of nature has been convulsed and torn asunder.
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But just as we begin to enter on the history of physical changes going on before our eyes, and in which we ourselves bear a part,
ADAM SEDGWICK -
Our book becomes more clear, and nature seems to speak to us in language so like our own, that we easily comprehend it.
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And why is this done? For no other reason, I am sure, except to make us independent of a Creator.
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[Vestiges begins] from principles which are at variance with all sober inductive truth.
ADAM SEDGWICK -
From first to last it is a dish of rank materialism cleverly cooked up.
ADAM SEDGWICK -
we must suppose all the covering of moss and heath and wood to be torn away from the sides of the mountains, and the green mantle that lies near their feet to be lifted up;
ADAM SEDGWICK -
And their many causes still acting on the surface of our globe with undiminished power, which are changing, and will continue to change it, as long as it shall last.
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If the [Vestiges] be true, the labours of sober induction are in vain; religion is a lie; human law is a mass of folly, and a base injustice; morality is moonshine
ADAM SEDGWICK