Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
I thought of the wilderness we had left behind us, open to sea and sky, joyous in its plenitude and simplicity, perfect yet vulnerable, unaware of what is coming, defended by nothing, guarded by no one.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the beauty and vulnerability of nature, highlighting its unprotected state in the face of impending change.
Edward Abbey's quote captures the essence of a natural landscape that is both beautiful and fragile. He invokes a sense of nostalgia for the wilderness, appreciating its abundance and simplicity while acknowledging its lack of defenses against the uncertainties that lie ahead. This tension between perfection and vulnerability serves as a reminder of the precarious balance of nature and the impacts of human activity.
Themes
NatureVulnerabilityWildernessSimplicityBeauty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a conservation event to emphasize the need to protect our natural landscapes.
More from Edward Abbey
All quotes →I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society.
Edward AbbeyRead
If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
Edward AbbeyRead
The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
Edward AbbeyRead
I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
Edward AbbeyRead
Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead
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I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
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