When the first living atom found itself afloat on the great Laurentian
sea the first act of that first atom led to the _second_ act of that
first atom, and so on down through the succeeding ages of all life,
until, if the steps could be traced, it would be shown that the first
act of that first atom has led inevitably to the act of my standing in
my dressing gown at this instant, talking to you. (Mark Twain—A
Biography).