“In nature’s infinite book of secrecy, A little I can read” – Shakespeare
Oak leaf in ice
I stumbled upon this quote recently. Not being all too familiar with Shakespeare other than titles of his works and basic story lines, I found that it is from Antony and Cleopatra. The context of this quote was in a conversation where a Soothsayer (ie. a person who is supposed to be able to see the future) states this, drawing comparisons between the mysteries and power of nature with those of the famed Cleopatra. Nature essentially limits the powers of the Soothsayer, as I imagine so does Cleopatra from my basic understanding of this passage.
When I contemplate all of the knowledge we have gathered about the natural world, it is mesmerizing to think about how truly little that is. Little in the context of our own planet, and infinitely more so in the context of the universe. Over time, nature seems to allow us to see a page or two at a time in a book with no ending, no final chapters, no dramatic conclusion.
I have to believe that nature does not want us to skip ahead chapters no matter how hungry or impatient we are for knowing more. Sometimes pages need to be read over and over, as if a passing test is needed to approve moving on to the next. Will the greater plot ever unfold?
In a smaller sense, I often feel this way myself when walking through the woods. What am I supposed to be appreciating in this spot before moving on to the next? Should I go back to the first sentence and begin again?
Would a glimpse into the future change our behaviors and patterns of today? How far would we need to see in order for that to happen? Is knowing what’s around the next bend of the trail helpful to understanding where we stand? Some consequences we already know and the Soothsayer can reveal little more. Many think that next bend could be a large cliff. More often than not, it seems we not only have to start the page over, but the entire chapter.
