In both cases it shows its wisdom by holding its tongue.

Because it moves in one necessary direction?
....
How do I know that it does?
How can I tell that it is not flirting with all the seven spheres at once, at this moment?
But if it does--so much the wiser of it, if that be the best direction for it.

Oh, what a base satire on ourselves and our notions of the fair and fitting, to say that a thing cannot be alive and rational, just because it goes steadily on upon its own road, instead of skipping and scrambling fantastically up and down without method or order, like us and the fleas, from the cradle to the grave! Besides, if you grant, with the rest of the world, that fleas are less noble than we, because they are our parasites, then you are bound to grant that we are less noble than the earth, because we are its parasites.

....

Positively, it looks more probable than anything I have seen for many a day....