--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without denying that adaptation may be…" description: "\"“Without denying that adaptation may be one of God's methods of operation, it may be definitely said, that an intelligent Master of the universe, in wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg" --- # Without denying that adaptation may be one of God's… ![“Without denying that adaptation may be one of God's methods of operation, it may be definitely said, that an intelligent Master of the universe, in which we believe, has the power to prepare an earth to fit the needs of man; or fit man to meet the conditions of earth. If He were not able to do so…” quote by John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg) > ““Without denying that adaptation may be one of God's methods of operation, it may be definitely said, that an intelligent Master of the universe, in which we believe, has the power to prepare an earth to fit the needs of man; or fit man to meet the conditions of earth. If He were not able to do so, He would be inferior to His creatures who build houses for human comfort, and equip them with heating, freezing, and many other devices. The argument for adaptation, standing alone, requires chance as a creative force. That we do not and cannot believe.”” [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that divine adaptation suggests a purposeful universe, but doubts arise when chance is invoked as the sole driver. **In simple terms:** God may shape Earth for us, but chance alone is doubtful. Key Takeaway Question the role of chance vs. design. Themes theology philosophy science Mood contemplative skeptical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - environmental planning - technology development - ethical debates - personal belief systems Key Concepts creationism probability anthropic principle Questions to Reflect On - Do you see design in nature? - How does chance affect faith? A Different Perspective It may overlook random events that shape evolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) [Adaptation God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation-god-5410660/) [Adaptation Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation-standing-5410662/) [Denying Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denying-adaptation-5410661/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Prepare Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-earth-5410663/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Standing alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-alone/) ## Related quotes > [Guys standing around and talking about Spanish fly: 'You know anything about Spanish fly?' 'No, tell me about it.' Well there's this girl Crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/guys-standing-around-and-talking-about-spanish-fly-you-know-anything/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [“When the masses are against you, when fear is on every side, and when it seems like you are standing alone, that is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammar-habib/when-the-masses-are-against-you-when-fear-is-on-every-side-and-when/) [Ammar Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammar-habib/) > [“To persons standing alone on a hill during a clear midnight such as this, the roll of the world is almost a palpable movement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/to-persons-standing-alone-on-a-hill-during-a-clear-midnight-such-as/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [Standing alone,eager to just believe,it's good enough to be what you really are,but in your heart,uncertainty forever lies,and you'll always be,somewhere on the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/standing-alone-eager-to-just-believe-it-s-good-enough-to-be-what-you/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [ We \[tend to\] have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate. We \[often feel that we\] cannot derive a sense… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/we-tend-to-have-more-faith-in-what-we-imitate-than-in-what-we/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“Her glittering nails and dangling earrings made her seem fragile sometimes, like something delicate, but then I'd find her standing alone on the roof…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-sun/her-glittering-nails-and-dangling-earrings-made-her-seem-fragile/) [Amanda Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-sun/) > ['The Polar Express' began with the idea of a train standing alone in the woods. I asked myself, 'What if a boy gets on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/the-polar-express-began-with-the-idea-of-a-train-standing-alone-in/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [“It seems I've strayed from my mission vision, which is used as the sea is now about to hoard even filled in by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pilo-poly/it-seems-i-ve-strayed-from-my-mission-vision-which-is-used-as-the-sea/) [Pilo Poly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pilo-poly/) > [We have more faith in what we imitate than in what we create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/we-have-more-faith-in-what-we-imitate-than-in-what-we-create/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Dont be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-be-afraid-to-stand-for-what-you-believe-in-even-if-that-means/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was as if when I looked into his eyes I was standing alone on the edge of the world...on a windswept ocean beach.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/it-was-as-if-when-i-looked-into-his-eyes-i-was-standing-alone-on-the/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [Standing alone doesn't mean I am alone. It's mean's I'm strong enough to handle things all by myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/standing-alone-doesn-t-mean-i-am-alone-it-s-mean-s-i-m-strong-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [First New York was a sort of provincial capital, bigger and richer than Manchester or Marseilles, but not much different in its essential spirit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-cowley/first-new-york-was-a-sort-of-provincial-capital-bigger-and-richer/) [Malcolm Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-cowley/) > [It is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/it-is-almost-inevitable-that-our-faith-will-be-challenged-we-may-at/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [It was mind-blowing. It was a small place with 2,000 standing-up tickets. It's great to have your band back and working and playing again,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-mind-blowing-it-was-a-small-place-with-2-000-standing-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John A. Widtsoe > [“Men, discouraged by their failure to accomplish exactly what they desire, often speak of their lives as purposeless, but it is idle talk, for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/men-discouraged-by-their-failure-to-accomplish-exactly-what-they/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“The desire and the effort to give to the Lord, born of the surrender of man to the plan of salvation, stamp every Christmas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/the-desire-and-the-effort-to-give-to-the-lord-born-of-the-surrender/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“When apostasy comes, it is because the spirit of revelation departs from us. The wire is broken between us and the source of truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/when-apostasy-comes-it-is-because-the-spirit-of-revelation-departs/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“Earth, stars, and the vastness of space; yesterday, today and tomorrow; and the endlessly increasing knowledge of the relation of forces, present an illimitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/earth-stars-and-the-vastness-of-space-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“A prayer is not complete unless gratitude for blessings is expressed. It is by the power of the Lord that we live and move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/a-prayer-is-not-complete-unless-gratitude-for-blessings-is-expressed/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“There is a spiritual meaning of all human acts and earthly events. … It is the business of man to find the spiritual meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/there-is-a-spiritual-meaning-of-all-human-acts-and-earthly-events-it/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“If we talk about the living oracles and want to pay respect to them, how shall we do this? Shall we do it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/if-we-talk-about-the-living-oracles-and-want-to-pay-respect-to-them/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“An acquaintanceship with the literature of the world may be won by any person who will devote half an hour a day to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/an-acquaintanceship-with-the-literature-of-the-world-may-be-won-by/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“In life all must choose at times. Sometimes, two possibilities are good; neither is evil. Usually, however, one is of greater import than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/in-life-all-must-choose-at-times-sometimes-two-possibilities-are-good/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“Such was the problem before our first parents: to remain forever at selfish ease in the Garden of Eden, or to face unselfishly tribulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/such-was-the-problem-before-our-first-parents-to-remain-forever-at/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“Men grow mighty under the results of temple service; women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/men-grow-mighty-under-the-results-of-temple-service-women-grow-strong/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“I will seek out, in modesty and humility, but incessantly and vigorously, those who love truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/i-will-seek-out-in-modesty-and-humility-but-incessantly-and/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“No one attribute so clearly distinguishes man as does the intelligent will or the will to act intelligently. It was by the exercise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/no-one-attribute-so-clearly-distinguishes-man-as-does-the-intelligent/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“It is the business of man to become acquainted with the material universe in all of its manifestations, so far as may be possible,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/it-is-the-business-of-man-to-become-acquainted-with-the-material/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) > [“Latter-day Saints cling to facts, and accept theories with caution--that should be the method of all truth seekers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/latter-day-saints-cling-to-facts-and-accept-theories-with-caution/) [John A. Widtsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) [Explore all 17 John A. Widtsoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/) ## More Adaptation quotes > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [My familiarity with the successful use of very long steel ropes for mining purposes naturally suggested their adaptation to the new purpose of deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-agassiz/my-familiarity-with-the-successful-use-of-very-long-steel-ropes-for/) [Alexander Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-agassiz/) > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-facts-of-variability-of-the-struggle-for-existence-of-adaptation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world may not be ready yet for the film equivalent of books on tape, but this peculiar phenomenon has arrived in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-world-may-not-be-ready-yet-for-the-film-equivalent-of-books-on/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [There is change by necessity or adaptation, and there is contrived change or novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/there-is-change-by-necessity-or-adaptation-and-there-is-contrived/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The tendency for depression to repeat reflects the normal default settings of a plastic mood system that is open to experience. The unfortunate consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rottenberg/the-tendency-for-depression-to-repeat-reflects-the-normal-default/) [Jonathan Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rottenberg/) > [“The unglamorous truth is that there are but a handful of uniquely human traits that we have clearly demonstrated are adaptations evolved to thrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rutherford/the-unglamorous-truth-is-that-there-are-but-a-handful-of-uniquely/) [Adam Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rutherford/) > [“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/you-must-be-shapeless-formless-like-water-when-you-pour-water-in-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“On the rare occasions on which a movie was shown, there was as much suspense in the audience over whether the electricity would hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/on-the-rare-occasions-on-which-a-movie-was-shown-there-was-as-much/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [Working on an adaptation is not as satisfying, because it's not your original work: you're interpreting. With 'L.A. Confidential,' I loved the book. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/working-on-an-adaptation-is-not-as-satisfying-because-it-s-not-your/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) [Browse all 476 Adaptation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Without denying that adaptation may be one of God's methods of operation, it may be definitely said, that an intelligent Master of the universe, in which we believe, has the power to prepare an earth to fit the needs of man; or fit man to meet the conditions of earth. If He were not able to do so, He would be inferior to His creatures who build houses for human comfort, and equip them with heating, freezing, and many other devices. The argument for adaptation, standing alone, requires chance as a creative force. That we do not and cannot believe.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John A. Widtsoe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-one-of-god-s-methods-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adaptation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-one-of-god-s-methods-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/866/john-a-widtsoe-30351_evolution_without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-o_1483242.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without denying that adaptation may be one of God's methods of operation, it may be definitely said, that an…” — John A. Widtsoe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John A. Widtsoe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-widtsoe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Without denying that adaptation may be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-one-of-god-s-methods-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-widtsoe/without-denying-that-adaptation-may-be-one-of-god-s-methods-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```