Quote

A man’s life may stagnate as literally as water may stagnate, and just as motion and direction are the remedy for one, so purpose and activity are the remedy for the other.

John Burroughs

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

John Burroughs
Age: 83 †
Born: 1837
Born: April 3
Died: 1921
Died: March 29
Essayist
Naturalist
Writer
Delaware County
New York
May
Remedy
Men
Motion
Life
Literally
Direction
Activity
Justice
Purpose
Water
Stagnate

More quotes by John Burroughs

Image
The lesson which life repeats and constantly enforces is 'look under foot.' You are always nearer the divine and the true sources of your power than you think.
John Burroughs
Image
Nature exists for man no more than she does for monkeys, and is as regardless of his life or pleasure or success as she is of the fleas. Her waves will drown him, her fire burn him, and her earth devour him, her storms and lightning smite him, as if he were only a dog.
John Burroughs
Image
It is always easier to believe than to deny. Our minds are naturally affirmative.
John Burroughs
Image
The overall quantity of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline slowly.
John Burroughs
Image
A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.
John Burroughs
Image
In fact, the United States is building up its trident nuclear sub fleet in the Pacific, based at Bangor, Washington to build up its capabilities to wage nuclear war.
John Burroughs
Image
The life of nature we must meet halfway it is shy, withdrawn, and blends itself with a vast neutral background. We must be initiated it is an order the secrets of which are well guarded.
John Burroughs
Image
To the scientist Nature is a storehouse of facts, laws, processes to the artist she is a storehouse of pictures to the poet she is a storehouse of images, fancies, a source of inspiration to the moralist she is a storehouse of precepts and parables to all she may be a source of knowledge and joy.
John Burroughs
Image
How much there is in books that one does not want to know, that it would be a mere weariness and burden to the spirit to know.
John Burroughs
Image
I am not going to advocate ... the abandoning of the improved modes of travel but I am going to brag as lustily as I can on behalf of the pedestrian, and show how all the shining angels second and accompany the man who goes afoot, while all the dark spirits are ever looking out for a chance to ride.
John Burroughs
Image
In the order of nature we may behold the ways of the Eternal.
John Burroughs
Image
Look underfoot. You are always nearer to the true sources of your power than you think. The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are. Don't despise your own place and hour. Every place is the center of the world.
John Burroughs
Image
Man is, and always has been, a maker of gods. It has been the most serious and significant occupation of his sojourn in the world.
John Burroughs
Image
The gift of perfume to a flower is a special grace like genius or like beauty, and never becomes common or cheap.
John Burroughs
Image
The five original nuclear weapon states I mentioned - U.S., Britain, France, China, and Russia - under the NPT have committed to the achievement of the elimination of their nuclear arsenals through good faith negotiations of nuclear disarmament - that's Article Six of the treaty.
John Burroughs
Image
I have discovered the secret of happiness - it is work, either with the hands or the head. The moment I have something to do, the draughts are open and my chimney draws, and I am happy.
John Burroughs
Image
Serene, I fold my hands and wait, Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea I rave no more 'gainst time or fate, For lo! my own shall come to me.
John Burroughs
Image
....success in walking is not to let your right foot know what your left foot doeth. Your heart must furnish such music that in keeping time to it your feet will carry you around the globe without knowing it.
John Burroughs
Image
We can outrun the wind and the storm, but we cannot outrun the demon of hurry.
John Burroughs
Image
I seldom go into a natural history museum without feeling as if I were attending a funeral.
John Burroughs