The word agriculture, after all, does not mean…
““The word agriculture, after all, does not mean "agriscience," much less "agribusiness." It means "cultivation of land." And cultivation is at the root of the sense both of culture and of cult. The ideas of tillage and worship are thus joined in culture. And these words all come from an Indo-European root meaning both "to revolve" and "to dwell." To live, to survive on the earth, to care for the soil, and to worship, all are bound at the root to the idea of a cycle. It is only by understanding the cultural complexity and largeness of the concept of agriculture that we can see the threatening diminishments implied by the term "agribusiness." (pg. 285, The Use of Energy)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Agriculture is fundamentally about land cultivation, linking culture, worship, and cycles of living, unlike its commercialized forms.
In simple terms: Agriculture means caring for land, not business.
Key Takeaway
Respect the earth, resist agribusiness.
Themes
culture
environment
economics
history
spirituality
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- sustainable farming
- policy making
- education curricula
- community gardening
- land stewardship
Key Concepts
Ecology
cultural anthropology
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modern agribusiness alter our relationship with the land?
- What practices can restore the cultural meaning of agriculture?
A Different Perspective
Commercial agriculture can ignore ecological and cultural roots.