Defenders of the short-sighted men who in their greed and…
““Defenders of the short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination of all useful and beautiful wild things sometimes seek to champion them by saying that “the game belongs to the people.” So it does; and not merely to the people now alive, but to the unborn people. The “greatest good for the greatest number” applies to the number within the womb of time, compared to which those now alive form but an insignificant fraction. Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us to restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The movement for the conservation of wild life and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method. —THEODORE ROOSEVELT, A Book-Lover’s Holidays in the Open (1916)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He argues that protecting wildlife benefits both current and future generations, urging democratic action against short‑sighted exploitation.
In simple terms: Protect nature for today and tomorrow.
Key Takeaway
Guard natural heritage for all generations.
Themes
environmental stewardship
intergenerational justice
democracy
Mood
concerned
urgent
optimistic
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- community education
- wildlife protection
- land management
- legislative reform
Key Concepts
conservation
sustainability
future‑oriented ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we align economic interests with environmental protection?
- What democratic tools best support long‑term conservation?
A Different Perspective
Balancing economic development with conservation can be contentious.