1912) Ritter: The Marine Biological Station of San Diego 147 
advances in experience and knowledge, the more does he become 
impressed with the vast scale on which things are done in the 
ocean and the literally infinite complexity of cause and law 
there in operation. Except for the gleams of light that early 
promise more light and the fascination there is in overcoming 
difficulties, one might welcome a pretext for turning back, once 
he has gone far enough in such an enterprise to see what is 
actually on his hands. Mere enthusiasm is too evanescent, and 
initial personal ambition has too many alternatives to hold one 
steady on such a course. 
