What does it mean these phrase? minds that are to our minds as ours I am reading the book "The war of the worlds" and I found out that phrase but I cant understand it, the complete phrase is: "Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us." I hope someone can help me Thx!