Nowadays almost all man's improvements, so called, as the…
““Nowadays almost all man's improvements, so called, as the building of houses, and the cutting down of the forest and of all large trees, simply deform the landscape, and make it more tame and cheap... and some worldly miser with a surveyor looking after his bounds, while heaven had taken place around him, and he did not see the angles going to and fro, but was looking for an old post-hole in the midst of paradise. I looked again, and saw him standing in the middle of a boggy, stygian, fen, surrounded by devils, and he had found his bounds without a doubt, three little stones, where a stake had been driven, and looking nearer, I saw that the prince of Darkness was his surveyor. ””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human attempts to control nature often blind us to its deeper, spiritual dimensions, leading to a narrow, material view.
In simple terms: Controlling land can obscure its true, spiritual essence.
Key Takeaway
Respect nature’s mystery beyond ownership.
Themes
environment
spirituality
humanity
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- land surveying
- conservation work
Key Concepts
ecology
philosophy
mythology
Questions to Reflect On
- How might we balance stewardship with reverence?
- What does “prince of darkness” symbolize in modern life?
A Different Perspective
Over‑control can stifle creativity and wonder.