That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals.

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot.

A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.

The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?

There can be no doubt that a society rooted in the soil is more stable than one rooted in pavements.

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.

The first law of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts

To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.

Emancipation of mind is the greatest liberty.

Only a foolish child would go swimming in the river that swallowed his father.

The soul’s a matter of the heart, Robert, and the heart’s a mystery even the greatest scientists don’t understand.

Forgiveness is not the act of doing nothing to the one who hurts you. It's easy to do nothing, but hard to forgive.

Throw a champion into the ocean, and he’ll swim.Throw a champion into the pit, and he’ll climb.Throw him off a cliff, and he’ll grow wings.Throw him into a furnace, and he’ll become gold.

To be really great, you need to be naturally funny in order to stand out. But you can work at it, and find the best vehicle that you have to communicate what you're saying to people.

Quitting law school was the most difficult decision of my life. But I felt this great relief that this is my life and I can do what I want with it.

Worry has never done anyone any good, and it is very much worse than mere dissipation of psychic energy, for it substantially curtails the joy and fullness of life.

I enjoy being a hyphenate. I've always thought of my career as a plate spinner in the circus.

A man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is ready to die for.