“The universe is so unhuman, that is, it goes its way with so little th...” — John Burroughs Quote

“The universe is so unhuman, that is, it goes its way with so little thought of man. He is but an incident, not an end. We must adjust our notions to the discovery that things are not shaped to him, but that he is shaped to them. The air was not made for his lungs, but he has lungs because there is air; the light was not created for his eye, but he has eyes because there is light. All the forces of nature are going their own way; man avails himself of them, or catches a ride as best he can. If he keeps his seat, he prospers; if he misses his hold and falls, he is crushed.”

“Emerson's fame as a writer and thinker was firmly established during his lifetime by the books he gave to the world.”

“The distribution of plants in a given locality is not more marked and defined than that of the birds. Show a botanist a landscape, and he will tell you where to look for the lady's-slipper, the columbine, or the harebell. On the same principles, the ornithologist will direct you where to look for the greenlets, the wood-sparrow, or the chewink.”

“It is always easier to believe than to deny. Our minds are naturally affirmative.”

“The spirit of man can endure only so much and when it is broken only a miracle can mend it.”

“The element of chance in basic research is overrated. Chance is a lady who smiles only upon those few who know how to make her smile.”

“There are no gods, no nations, no money and no human rights, except in our collective imagination.”

“Nothing in the world can be absolute except the Absolute itself. Everything else is contained and exists in relations. Relations can exist only through the division of the Absolute or God. Since no part is absolute, then no part can completely understand (including the human mind) or comprehend the whole of the Absolute. Understanding the “final” laws leads toward the end.”

“Look closely at nature. Every species is a masterpiece, exquisitely adapted to the particular environment in which it has survived Who are we to destroy or even diminish biodiversity.”

“One of the lessons I have learned in the different stages of my career is that science is not done alone. It is through talking with others and sharing that progress is made.”