Time advances: facts accumulate; doubts arise. Faint glimpses of truth begin to appear, and shine more and more unto the perfect day. The highest intellects, like the tops of mountains, are the first to catch and to reflect the dawn. They are bright, while the level below is still in darkness. But soon the light, which at first illuminated only the loftiest eminences, descends on the plain, and penetrates to the deepest valley. First come hints, then fragments of systems, then defective systems, then complete and harmonious systems. The sound opinion, held for a time by one bold speculator, becomes the opinion of a small minority, of a strong minority, of a majority of mankind. Thus, the great progress goes on.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the gradual process of acquiring knowledge and understanding over time. As time passes, facts accumulate and doubts arise, leading to the emergence of faint glimpses of truth. The analogy of mountains and valleys suggests that the most intelligent people perceive these glimpses of truth first, while others are still in darkness. However, with the passage of time, the light spreads and illuminates the minds of more individuals, resulting in the development of complete and harmonious systems of knowledge. This progression from hints to complete systems is driven by the initial opinions of bold thinkers, which gradually gain acceptance and become the majority opinion. The quote ultimately emphasizes the continuous progress in human knowledge and understanding as time extends.

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