And such a light and small flame is of great efficacy and scope, and nothing less than the clarity

of nature itself. The light of human nature makes the philosophers so sure of themselves that

with the principles of the first cause they reach the loftiest doctrines and the deepest abysses. But

my son, lest I venture too far for your future perception, be aware that men of letters shall make

grand and usually boastful claims about the way I interpreted the world, before the worldwide

conflagration which is to bring so many catastrophes and such revolutions that scarcely any lands

will not be covered by water (6), and this will last until all has perished save history and

geography themselves. This is why, before and after these revolutions in various countries, the

rains will be so diminished and such abundance of fire and fiery missiles shall fall from the

heavens that nothing shall escape the holocaust. And this will occur before the last

conflagration.

--Nostradamus