I hold the most archaic values on earth ... the fertility of the soul, the magic of the animals, the power-vision in solitude.... the love and ecstasy of the dance, the common work of the tribe.
Gary SnyderRead
I pledge allegiance to the soil _x000D_ of Turtle Island, _x000D_ and to the beings who thereon dwell _x000D_ one ecosystem _x000D_ in diversity _x000D_ under the sun _x000D_ With joyful interpenetratio n for all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a commitment to the land and its diverse inhabitants, emphasizing unity and joy in coexistence.
Gary Snyder's quote reflects a deep ecological pledge to the earth, particularly to Turtle Island, which is a term used by some Indigenous peoples of North America to describe the continent. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings within an ecosystem and advocates for a joyful relationship with nature, highlighting the importance of diversity and harmony under the sun.
Themes
NatureEcosystemDiversityUnityCommitment
In practice
Example use cases
During an environmental awareness workshop, one might use this quote to inspire participants.
More from Gary Snyder
All quotes →Being the Stream Meditation is not just a rest or retreat from the turmoil of the stream or the impurity of the world. It is a way of being the stream, so that one can be at home in both the white water and the eddies. Meditation may take one out of the world, but it also puts one totally into it.
Gary SnyderRead
We . . . must try to live without causing unnecessary harm, not just to fellow humans but to all beings. We must try not to be stingy, or to exploit others. There will be enough pain in the world as it is.
Gary SnyderRead
Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.
Gary SnyderRead
In the belly of the furnace of creativity is a sexual fire; the flames twine about each other in fear and delight. The same sort of coiling, at a cooler, slower pace, is what the life of this planet looks like. The enormous spirals of typhoons, the twists and turns of mountain ranges and gorges, the waves and the deep ocean currents - a dragonlike writhing.
Gary SnyderRead
Forests in the tropics are cut to make pasture to raise beef for the American market. Our distance from the source of our food enables us to be superficially more comfortable, and distinctly more ignorant.
Gary SnyderRead
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