John Muir Quotes

All that is necessary to make any landscape visible and therefore impressive is to regard it from a new point of view or from an old one with our head upside down — then we behold a new heaven and earth and are born again as if we had gone on a pilgrimage to some far off holy land.

Man as he came from the hand of his Maker was poetic in both mind and body, but the gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed Nature, and poetry, and all that is spiritual.

He (the Douglas squirrel) is the most influential of the Sierra animals, quick mountain vigor and valor condensed, purely wild, and as free from disease as a sunbeam.

But it is in the darkest nights, when storms are blowing and the agitated waves are phosphorescent, that the most impressive displays are made.

I always befriended animals and have said many a good word for them. Even to the least-loved mosquitoes I gave many a meal, and told them to go in peace.

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news

I had built a little cabin in Yosemite, and for convenience in getting water, and for the sake of music and society, I led a small stream from Yosemite Creek into it. Running along the side of the wall it was not in the way, and it had just fall enough to ripple and sing in low, sweet tones, making delightful company, especially at night when I was lying awake. Then a few frogs came in and made merry with the stream, — and one snake.

In so wild and so beautiful a region your first day will be spent, every sight and sound novel and inspiring, and leading you far from yourself.

Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings.

We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.

Contemplando il rivestimento di merletto che i torrenti disegnano sulle montagne non si può non rammentare che ogni cosa fluisce, ogni cosa si muove verso un qualche punto, gli esseri viventi e le rocce così dette inanimate come l'acqua.
Fluisce la neve, rapida o lenta, nelle valanghe e nei ghiacciai creatori di bellezza; fluisce l'aria in maestose inondazioni che trasportano minerali e foglie, semi e spore, torrenti di musiche e di profumi; fluisce l'acqua trasportando rocce, in soluzione o in forma di fango, sabbia, ciottoli, sassi. Fluiscono le rocce dalla bocca dei vulcani, come acque dalle fonti e gli animali si raggruppano ed è tutto un fluire, un avanzare di zampe, di groppe in salto, d'ali spiegate, sulla terra, nell'aria, nel mare... E intanto le stelle corrono nello spazio spinte dal perenne pulsare, come globuli rossi nel caldo sangue della Natura.

Of all the fire-mountains which, like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest.

So far from complete at times is sympathy between parents and children, and so much like wild beasts are baby boys, little fighting, biting, climbing pagans.