The Wonder of the World 47 



as nothing has entered of itself into the condition in which 

 we find it, we are constantly referred to some other thing, 

 which itself suggests the same inquiry regarding its cause, 

 and thus the universe must sink into the abyss of nothing- 

 ness, unless we admit that, besides this infinite chain of 

 contingencies, there exists something that is primal and 

 self-subsistent, something which as the cause of this phe- 

 nomenal world secures its continuance and preservation." 



To speak of the primal and self-subsistent does 

 not come within the strictly scientific universe of 

 discourse, but to disclose the wonder of the world 

 does. And it may be that those who realize this 

 wonder most are those who follow it farthest and 

 most fearlessly as it beckons, assured more and 

 more fully of what is meant by Pascal's words, 

 "In that thou hast sought me, thou hast already 

 found me." 



Do you ask why we have delayed so long over 

 what every one admits — the wonder of the world ? 

 It is because this wonder is Nature's primary 

 message to us, because the sense of wonder is at 

 the roots of science and philosophy, because it 

 has been and will always be one of the footstools 

 of religion. We do well to mistrust any form of 

 any one of these — science, philosophy, or religion 

 — which does not deepen and heighten that won- 

 der which is a primary attribute of every one who 

 will be a minister and interpreter of nature. In 

 all simplicity we must begin, though we need not 



