I have precious little sympathy for the selfish propriety…
“I have precious little sympathy for the selfish propriety of civilized man, and if aware of races should occur between the wild beasts and Lord Man, I would be tempted to sympathise with the bears.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Muir sympathizes with bears over humans, critiquing civilized selfishness.
In simple terms: Prefers wild over selfish civilization
Key Takeaway
Reflect on humanity's impact on nature
Themes
environment
philosophy
ethics
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
environmental
ethical
When to use this quote
- conservation
- wildlife advocacy
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
Nature vs civilization
sympathy
selfishness
Questions to Reflect On
- Can civilization coexist with wild?
- What responsibilities do we have to nature?
A Different Perspective
Human progress may benefit nature