Cost Quote by Aldo Leopold
“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher 'standard of living' is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free. For us of the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television.”
About This Quote
Source Book: A Sand County Almanac, 1949
We trade wild nature for convenience, questioning if higher living standards justify losing natural freedom.
In simple terms: We lose wild nature for comfort, questioning its worth.
Key Takeaway
Consider the true cost of modern comforts.
Themes
environment
progress
values
trade-offs
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- personal lifestyle choices
- policy debates
- environmental education
Key Concepts
conservation
industrialization
consumerism
Questions to Reflect On
- What natural experiences are you willing to sacrifice?
- How can we balance progress with preservation?
A Different Perspective
Convenience can erode appreciation for nature.
![“In that year [1865] John Muir offered to buy from his brother ... a sanctuary for the wildflowers that had gladdened his youth. His brother declined to part with the land, but he could not suppress the idea: 1865 still stands in Wisconsin history as the birth-year of mercy for things natural…” quote by Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bf9/aldo-leopold-1278_birth_in-that-year-1865-john-muir-offered-to-b_1777207.jpg)
![“[Photography is ] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that could be happening, to some degree, with photography, too. It doesn't cost as much to do it, either.” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/garry-winogrand-2342_cost_photography-is-likewise-even-french-impr_2802.jpg)
