--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The past history of our globe must be…" description: "\"The past history of our globe must be explained by what can be seen to be happening now. No powers are to be employed that are not natural to the globe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/james-hutton-28638_action_the-past-history-of-our-globe-must-be-ex_2182373.jpg" --- # The past history of our globe must be explained by what… ![“The past history of our globe must be explained by what can be seen to be happening now. No powers are to be employed that are not natural to the globe, no action to be admitted except those of which we know the principle.” quote by James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/james-hutton-28638_action_the-past-history-of-our-globe-must-be-ex_2182373.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/james-hutton-28638_action_the-past-history-of-our-globe-must-be-ex_2182373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/410/james-hutton-28638_action_the-past-history-of-our-globe-must-be-ex_2182373.jpg) > “The past history of our globe must be explained by what can be seen to be happening now. No powers are to be employed that are not natural to the globe, no action to be admitted except those of which we know the principle.” [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding current events requires grounding in natural laws; actions should align with natural principles and known science. **In simple terms:** Base actions on natural laws. Key Takeaway Align with reality. Themes science history philosophy environment Mood analytical reflective Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - environmental policy - education - technology development - resource management Key Concepts natural law empiricism causality Questions to Reflect On - What natural principles guide your decisions? - How do we apply scientific knowledge to policy? A Different Perspective Natural laws may be interpreted differently. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Globe Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globe-action-4720475/) [Globe Explained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globe-explained-4720473/) [Globes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/globes/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Globe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-globe-4720474/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-history-651294/) [Powers Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers-employed-3254736/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [The flexible muscles growing daily more rigid give character to the countenance ; that is, they trace the operations of the mind with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-flexible-muscles-growing-daily-more-rigid-give-character-to-the/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [I look back into past history, the stored experiences or products of the imagination. I look no further forward than the evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerzy-kosi-ski/i-look-back-into-past-history-the-stored-experiences-or-products-of/) [Jerzy Kosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerzy-kosi-ski/) > [We have to forget the past. History is something that even today we are paying the consequences, and the future is integration. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/we-have-to-forget-the-past-history-is-something-that-even-today-we/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [“the past is history written in stone that can’t be altered. The future is transitory and never guaranteed. Today is the only thing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-past-is-history-written-in-stone-that-can-t-be-altered-the-future-3/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [The past is history, looking towards the future! Always chasing my sweet dreams!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-is-history-looking-towards-the-future-always-chasing-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The past is history written in stone that can't be altered. The future is transitory and never guaranteed. Today is the only thing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-past-is-history-written-in-stone-that-can-t-be-altered-the-future-2/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Your past is your history, your future is your destainy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-white/your-past-is-your-history-your-future-is-your-destainy/) [Marcus White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-white/) > [Dont allow problems of the past to clog your happiness. Work diligently to unravel yourself from your past history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/dont-allow-problems-of-the-past-to-clog-your-happiness-work/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [It's great to have a great past and history. But it's even greater to have a good future. So the most important history is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kaeser/it-s-great-to-have-a-great-past-and-history-but-it-s-even-greater-to/) [Joe Kaeser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kaeser/) > [But, it's because we have a harder way to succeed in life as Serbs because of the past that we had and because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novak-djokovic/but-it-s-because-we-have-a-harder-way-to-succeed-in-life-as-serbs/) [Novak Djokovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novak-djokovic/) > [The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/the-past-is-history-the-future-is-a-mystery-the-present-is-a-gift/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Since we do not take a man on his past history, we do not refuse him because of his past history. I never met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/since-we-do-not-take-a-man-on-his-past-history-we-do-not-refuse-him/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“The past is history written in stone that can’t be altered. The future is transitory and never guaranteed. Today is the only thing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-past-is-history-written-in-stone-that-can-t-be-altered-the-future/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Maybe Rachel was right all along. Maybe the past is past, history is history, and you just push it aside and look for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/maybe-rachel-was-right-all-along-maybe-the-past-is-past-history-is/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all parties to leave the past to history, especially as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/for-my-part-i-consider-that-it-will-be-found-much-better-by-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by James Hutton > [There is no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/there-is-no-vestige-of-a-beginning-no-prospect-of-an-end/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [ The globe of this earth … \[is\] … not just a machine but also a organised body as it has a regenerative power. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/the-globe-of-this-earth-is-not-just-a-machine-but-also-a-organised/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [If an organised body is not in the situation and circumstances best adapted to its sustenance and propagation, then, in conceiving an indefinite variety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/if-an-organised-body-is-not-in-the-situation-and-circumstances-best/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [A rock or stone is not a subject that, of itself, may interest a philosopher to study; but, when he comes to see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/a-rock-or-stone-is-not-a-subject-that-of-itself-may-interest-a/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [We are not to suppose, that there is any violent exertion of power, such as is required in order to produce a great event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/we-are-not-to-suppose-that-there-is-any-violent-exertion-of-power/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [Error, never can be consistent, nor can truth fail of having support from the accurate examination of every circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/error-never-can-be-consistent-nor-can-truth-fail-of-having-support/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [In matters of science, curiosity gratified begets not indolence, but new desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/in-matters-of-science-curiosity-gratified-begets-not-indolence-but/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [The result, therefore, of this physical enquiry is that we find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/the-result-therefore-of-this-physical-enquiry-is-that-we-find-no/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [With such wisdom has nature ordered things in the economy of this world, that the destruction of one continent is not brought about without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/with-such-wisdom-has-nature-ordered-things-in-the-economy-of-this/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [To a naturalist nothing is indifferent; the humble moss that creeps upon the stone is equally interesting as the lofty pine which so beautifully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/to-a-naturalist-nothing-is-indifferent-the-humble-moss-that-creeps/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [As there is not in human observation proper means for measuring the waste of land upon the globe, it is hence inferred, that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/as-there-is-not-in-human-observation-proper-means-for-measuring-the/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [ \[It\] is the little causes, long continued, which are considered as bringing about the greatest changes of the earth. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/it-is-the-little-causes-long-continued-which-are-considered-as/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [When we trace the part of which this terrestrial system is composed, and when we view the general connection of those several parts, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/when-we-trace-the-part-of-which-this-terrestrial-system-is-composed/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [Time, which measures everything in our idea, and is often deficient to our schemes, is to nature endless and as nothing; it cannot limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/time-which-measures-everything-in-our-idea-and-is-often-deficient-to/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) > [Man is made for science; he reasons from effects to causes, and from causes to effects; but he does not always reason without error.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hutton/man-is-made-for-science-he-reasons-from-effects-to-causes-and-from/) [James Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) [Explore all 19 James Hutton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hutton/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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