John James Audubon Quotes

Never give up listening to the sounds of birds.

A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.

If only the bird with the loveliest song sang, the forest would be a lonely place.

When the bird and the book disagree, believe the bird.

I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could.

Hunting, fishing, drawing, and music occupied my every moment. Cares I knew not, and cared naught about them.

The worse my drawings were, the more beautiful did the originals appear.

In my deepest troubles, I frequently would wrench myself from the persons around me and retire to some secluded part of our noble forests.

There is but one kind of love; God is love, and all his creatures derive theirs from his; only it is modified by the different degrees of intelligence in different beings and creatures.

During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks.

Look at that mallard as he floats on the lake; see his elevated head glittering with emerald green, his amber eyes glancing in the light! Even at this distance, he has marked you, and suspects that you bear no goodwill towards him, for he sees that you have a gun, and he has many a time been frightened by its report, or that of some other. The wary bird draws his feet under his body, springs upon then, opens his wings, and with loud quacks bids you farewell.

As I grew up I was fervently desirous of becoming acquainted with Nature.

[Drawing should be] a journey of pleasure. Each step must present to the travellers' view objects that are eminently interesting, varied in their appearances, and attracting to such a degree as to excite in each individual thus happily employed the desire of knowing all respecting all he sees.

My heart swelled with uncontrollable delight.

Almost every day, instead of going to school when I ought to have gone, I usually made for the fields, where I spent the day.

I can scarcely manage to scribble a tolerable English letter. I know that I am not a scholar, but meantime I am aware that no man living knows better than I do the habits of our birds.

The best recommendation I can have is my own talents, and the fruits of my own labors, and what others will not do for me, I will try and do for myself.

Great men show politeness in a particular way; a smile suffices to assure you that you are welcome, and keep about their avocations as if you were a member of the family.

A Mocking Bird regularly resorts to the south angle of a chimney top and salutes us with sweetest notes from the rising of the moon until about midnight.

I cannot help but think a curious event is this life of mine

. . .nature indifferently copied is far superior to the best idealities.

All trembling, I reached the Falls of Niagara, and oh, what a scene! My blood shudders still, although I am not a coward, at the grandeur of the Creators power; and I gazed motionless on this new display of the irresistible force of one of His elements.

The Fur Company may be called the exterminating medium of these wild and almost uninhabitable regions, which cupidity or the love of money alone would induce man to venture into. Where can I now go and find nature undisturbed?

The nature of the place...whether high or low, moist or dry, whether sloping north or south, or bearing tall trees or low shrubs...generally gives hint as to its inhabitants.

How could I make a little book, when I have seen enough to make a dozen large books?