Butterflies doing strange things in very beautiful ways were in my mind when I sat down, but by the time my pen was uncapped my thoughts had shifted to rocks.

The isness of things is well worth studying but it is their whyness that makes life worth living.

To be a Naturalist is better than to be a King.

The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its first material expression be destroyed a vanished harmony may yet again inspire the composer but when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again.

Earth has few secrets from the birds.

When ... we realize the possibilities of deep sea life still unknown to us, every haul of the dredge should be welcomed by an expectant enthusiasm equaled in other fields only by the possible hope of communication with our sister planets.

I can only think of one experience which might exceed in interest a few hours spent under water, and that would be a journey to Mars.

The marsh, to him who enters it in a receptive mood, holds, besides mosquitoes and stagnation, melody, the mystery of unknown waters, and the sweetness of Nature undisturbed by man.

A first walk in any new country is one of the things which makes life on this planet worth being grateful for.