Quote by Henry David Thoreau
As in geology, so in social institutions, we may discover the causes of all past changes in the present invariable order of society.
Summary
This quote suggests that just like we can understand the changes and formation of geological structures by examining their present state, the same principle holds true for understanding social institutions. By observing the current state and order of society, we can identify the causes of all previous transformations and developments. In other words, the quote implies that society's past changes can be traced back to the patterns and dynamics that still exist in the present.