"To say that mind is a product or function of protoplasm, or of its molecular changes, is to use words to which we can attach no clear conception"

This quote by Alfred Russel Wallace is a review of the idea that the mind is an item or function of protoplasm, or of its molecular modifications. Wallace is suggesting that this idea is too abstract to be comprehended, which the words used to describe it are too vague to be meaningful. He is suggesting that the concept is too complex to be described in simple terms, which it is difficult to connect a clear conception to it. Wallace is suggesting that the mind is a complex phenomenon that can not be lowered to a single cause or description. He is highlighting the importance of comprehending the complexity of the mind, and the requirement to approach it with an open mind. He is likewise suggesting that the mind is a strange and effective force that can not be completely understood through scientific inquiry alone.