Several excuses are always less convincing than one.
You all remember, I suppose, that beautiful and inspired saying of Our Ford's: History is bunk.
A love of nature keeps no factories busy.
In life, man proposes, God disposes.
Industrial civilization is only possible when there's no self-denial. Self-indulgence up to the very limits imposed by hygiene and economics. Otherwise the wheels stop turning.
Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-south-west; then paused, and after a few seconds, turned as unhurriedly back towards the left. South-south-west, south, south-east, east.