Do you see how an act is not, as young men think, like a…
““Do you see how an act is not, as young men think, like a rock that one picks up and throws, and it hits or misses, and that's the end of it. When that rock is lifted, the earth is lighter; the hand that bears it heavier. When it is thrown, the circuits of the stars respond, and where it strikes or falls, the universe is changed. On every act the balance of the whole depends. The winds and seas, the powers of water and earth and light, all that these do, and all that the beasts and green things do, is well done, and rightly done. All these act within the Equilibrium. From the hurricane and the great whale's sounding to the fall of a dry leaf and the gnat's flight, all they do is done within the balance of the whole. But we, insofar as we have power over the world and over one another, we must learn to do what the leaf and the whale and the wind do of their own nature. We must learn to keep the balance. Having intelligence, we must not act in ignorance. Having choice, we must not act without responsibility.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Every action affects the whole; we must act responsibly with awareness.
In simple terms: Actions ripple through the world.
Key Takeaway
Act with awareness and responsibility.
Themes
responsibility
interconnectedness
balance
environment
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- policy making
- personal choices
- community projects
Key Concepts
systems thinking
ethics
ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you see your influence?
- What choices reflect stewardship?
A Different Perspective
Complex systems can obscure individual impact.