Quote by Carl Sagan
The fossil record implies trial and error, the inability to anticipate the future, features inconsistent with a Great Designer (though not a Designer of a more remote and indirect temperament.)
Summary
This quote suggests that the fossil record shows evidence of trial and error in the development of species, indicating that there was no perfect anticipation of the future. This inconsistency does not align with the concept of a Great Designer who could foresee and plan everything perfectly, although it leaves open the possibility of a Designer with a more remote and indirect approach. In essence, the quote highlights the incongruity between the fossil record and the idea of a flawlessly proactive Creator.
By Carl Sagan