"We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls ride over the river, we know not. Ah, well! we may conjecture many things"

In this quote, John Wesley Powell is expressing the uncertainty and enjoyment of embarking on a new journey. He compares the journey to running a distance and exploring a river, both of which are unknown and loaded with surprises. He acknowledges that there may be challenges and obstacles along the way, represented by the falls, rocks, and walls in the river. Despite not knowing what lies ahead, Powell stays positive and motivates us to utilize our imagination and make educated guesses about what might come. This quote serves as a suggestion to embrace the unidentified and technique it with curiosity and objectivity.