If a man walk in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer; but if he spends his whole day as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making earth bald before her time, he is esteemed an industrious and enterprising citizen. As if a town had no interest in its forests but to cut them down!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Spending time in nature is seen as lazy, while exploiting it is praised as industrious, highlighting society's misplaced values.
- In plain terms
- Society rewards exploitation of nature over its appreciation.
- What can you take from it?
- Question what we call 'productive' work.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why do we glorify resource extraction?
- How can we value stewardship?
Another view
Does not consider economic necessity for some workers.
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