John Muir Quotes - Page 7

I was awakened by a tremendous earthquake, and though I hadn ever before enjoyed a storm of this sort, the strange thrilling motion could not be mistaken, and I ran out of my cabin, both glad and frightened, shouting, "A noble earthquake! A noble earthquake" feeling sure I was going to learn something.

When one tugs at a single thing in nature; he finds it attached to the rest of the world. Variant - When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. Variant - Tug on anything at all and you'll find it connected to everything else in the universe.

How narrow we selfish conceited creatures are in our sympathies! How blind to the rights of all the rest of creation!

Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings.

No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life. Some lean back in majestic repose; others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, giving welcome to storms and calms alike, seemingly aware, yet heedless, of everything going on about them.

Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity.

Who reports the works and ways of the clouds, those wondrous creations coming into being every day like freshly upheaved mountains?

Strange the faithless fuss made about taking a walk in the safest and pleasantest of all places, a wilderness.

Writing is like the life of a glacier; one eternal grind.

I am very blessed. The Valley is full of people, but they do not annoy me. I revolve in pathless places and in higher rocks than the world and his ribbony wife can reach.

One day's exposure to mountains is better than cartloads of books. See how willingly Nature poses herself upon photographers' plates. No earthly chemicals are so sensitive as those of the human soul.

How infinitely superior to our physical senses are those of the mind!

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way." ... "Surely a better time must be drawing nigh when godlike human beings will become truly humane, and learn to put their animal fellow mortals in their hearts instead of on their backs or in their dinners.

While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

One should go to the woods for safety, if for nothing else.

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. One fancies a heart like our own must be beating in every crystal and cell, and we feel like stopping to speak to the plants and animals as friendly fellow-mountaineers. Nature as a poet, an enthusiastic workingman, becomes more and more visible the farther and higher we go.

I always enjoyed the hearty society of a snowstorm.

Although I was four years at the University [of Wisconsin], I did not take the regular course of studies, but instead picked out what I thought would be most useful to me, particularly chemistry, which opened a new world, mathematics and physics, a little Greek and Latin, botany and and geology. I was far from satisfied with what I had learned, and should have stayed longer.

A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.

Living artificially in towns, we are sickly, and never come to know ourselves.

Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach.

Go quietly alone, no harm will befall you.

Men use care in purchasing a horse, and are neglectful in choosing friends.

Books are but stepping stones to show you where other minds have been.

I...am always glad to touch the living rock again and dip my hand in the high mountain air.