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To preserve wild animals implies generally the creation of…

“To preserve wild animals implies generally the creation of a forest for them to dwell in or resort to. So it is with man. A hundred years ago they sold bark in our streets peeled from our own woods. In the very aspect of those primitive and rugged trees there was, methinks, a tanning principle…” quote by Henry David Thoreau
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“To preserve wild animals implies generally the creation of a forest for them to dwell in or resort to. So it is with man. A hundred years ago they sold bark in our streets peeled from our own woods. In the very aspect of those primitive and rugged trees there was, methinks, a tanning principle which hardened and consolidated the fibres of men's thoughts. Ah! already I shudder for these comparatively degenerate days of my native village, when you cannot collect a load of bark of good thickness, and we no longer produce tar and turpentine.”

Henry David Thoreau

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human progress mirrors nature: as forests provide resources, society must preserve natural cycles, lest we lose essential skills.

In simple terms: We lose vital crafts when we stop using natural resources.

Key Takeaway

Preserve natural practices.

Themes

environment industrialization skill loss

Mood

thoughtful concerned

Type

philosophical environmental

When to use this quote

  • rural life
  • craftsmanship
  • environmental education

Key Concepts

sustainability tradition resource cycles

Questions to Reflect On

  • What traditional skills can we revive?
  • How does industrialization affect community resilience?
A Different Perspective

Modern reliance on synthetic substitutes may ignore ecological impact.

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