--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have read many definitions of what is a…" description: "\"I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist, and written not a few myself, but I suspect that the best one is written not with a pen, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/aldo-leopold-1278_chopping_i-have-read-many-definitions-of-what-is_2213581.png" --- # I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist… ![“I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist, and written not a few myself, but I suspect that the best one is written not with a pen, but with an axe. It is a matter of what a man thinks about while chopping, or while deciding what to chop. A conservationist is one who is humbly…” quote by Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/aldo-leopold-1278_chopping_i-have-read-many-definitions-of-what-is_2213581.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/aldo-leopold-1278_chopping_i-have-read-many-definitions-of-what-is_2213581.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/aldo-leopold-1278_chopping_i-have-read-many-definitions-of-what-is_2213581.png) > “I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist, and written not a few myself, but I suspect that the best one is written not with a pen, but with an axe. It is a matter of what a man thinks about while chopping, or while deciding what to chop. A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke he is writing his signature on the face of his land.” [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conservation is best expressed through action and deep respect for land, not just words; each act of stewardship writes a lasting impact. **In simple terms:** Conservation is action, not just theory. Key Takeaway Act responsibly toward nature. Themes environment conservation ethics stewardship nature Mood thoughtful inspirational Type environmental ethical When to use this quote - forestry - land management - community projects - policy advocacy Key Concepts sustainability land ethic responsibility ecology Questions to Reflect On - What daily actions reflect your land ethic? - How can you balance use and preservation? A Different Perspective Action alone may not address systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservation/) [Conservationist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservationist/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [ A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke \[of the axe\] he is writing his signature on the face of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/a-conservationist-is-one-who-is-humbly-aware-that-with-each-stroke-of-2/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [ A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke \[of the axe\] he is writing his signature on the face of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/a-conservationist-is-one-who-is-humbly-aware-that-with-each-stroke-of/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [“It is those who have compassion for all life who will best safeguard the life of man. Those who become aroused only when man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-way-teale/it-is-those-who-have-compassion-for-all-life-who-will-best-safeguard/) [Edwin Way Teale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-way-teale/) > [My focus personally has been to be a conservationist, which is to save species, protect wild lands, sometimes bring animals into assurance colonies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-goode/my-focus-personally-has-been-to-be-a-conservationist-which-is-to-save/) [Eric Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-goode/) > [Nobody can legitimately claim to be a marine ecologist and conservationist while continuing to eat fish. It is the ultimate form of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/nobody-can-legitimately-claim-to-be-a-marine-ecologist-and/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [“My definition of Theology My proverb of theology is a doctrine study of overall foundation of biblical notions, transcendence, an scriptures relativist, researcher and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelton-jones/my-definition-of-theology-my-proverb-of-theology-is-a-doctrine-study/) [John Shelton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelton-jones/) > [“A man could shoot thirty ducks if it pleased him, and then shoot thirty more the next day, and it was perfectly legal. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-bechtel/a-man-could-shoot-thirty-ducks-if-it-pleased-him-and-then-shoot/) Stefan Bechtel > [I have been, all my life, what is known as a conservationist. It seems clear beyond possibility of argument that any given generation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderick-haig-brown/i-have-been-all-my-life-what-is-known-as-a-conservationist-it-seems/) [Roderick Haig-Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderick-haig-brown/) > [“If a conservationist has more stathmin, less risk-taking gene, and the pro-drilling advocate has less stathmin, more risk-taking gene, how can the two have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/if-a-conservationist-has-more-stathmin-less-risk-taking-gene-and-the/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [I am more of a conservationist, myself. And people have come to me and said, "Wow, you're an African-American conservationist!" And my response is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-ringo/i-am-more-of-a-conservationist-myself-and-people-have-come-to-me-and/) [Jerome Ringo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-ringo/) > [“I turned to find him grinning. “You need a shower, I need a shower, let’s save water by taking one together.” “When did you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/i-turned-to-find-him-grinning-you-need-a-shower-i-need-a-shower-let-s/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [“All we did was have facilitators and the jargon - talk, talk, talk. I went through that more than once. The facilitator, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-starbuck/all-we-did-was-have-facilitators-and-the-jargon-talk-talk-talk-i-went/) Susan Starbuck > [Today, I’m a conservationist because I believe that my species doesn’t have the right or option to determine the fate of other species, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-corwin/today-i-m-a-conservationist-because-i-believe-that-my-species-doesn-t/) [Jeff Corwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-corwin/) > [I am a conservationist. It is in my DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-bacon/i-am-a-conservationist-it-is-in-my-dna/) [Louis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-bacon/) > [A true conservative must necessarily be a conservationist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-true-conservative-must-necessarily-be-a-conservationist/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More by Aldo Leopold > [The worthiness of any cause is not measured by its clean record, but by its readiness to see the blots when they are pointed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/the-worthiness-of-any-cause-is-not-measured-by-its-clean-record-but/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Is it possible to preserve the element of Unknown Places in our national life? Is it practicable to do so, without undue loss in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/is-it-possible-to-preserve-the-element-of-unknown-places-in-our/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Teach the student to see the land, understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/teach-the-student-to-see-the-land-understand-what-he-sees-and-enjoy/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Wildflower corners are easy to maintain, but once gone, they are hard to rebuild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/wildflower-corners-are-easy-to-maintain-but-once-gone-they-are-hard/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [In our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/in-our-attempt-to-make-conservation-easy-we-have-made-it-trivial/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [He who searches for spring with his knees in the mud finds it, in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/he-who-searches-for-spring-with-his-knees-in-the-mud-finds-it-in/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Nonconformity is the highest evolutionary attainment of social animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/nonconformity-is-the-highest-evolutionary-attainment-of-social-animals/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [If education really educates, there will, in time, be more and more citizens who understand that relics of the old West add meaning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/if-education-really-educates-there-will-in-time-be-more-and-more/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [This song of the waters is audible to every ear, but there is other music in these hills, by no means audible to all……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/this-song-of-the-waters-is-audible-to-every-ear-but-there-is-other/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [To those who know the speech of hills and rivers straightening a stream is like shipping vagrants—a very successful method of passing trouble from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/to-those-who-know-the-speech-of-hills-and-rivers-straightening-a/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Wilderness is a resource which can shrink but not grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/wilderness-is-a-resource-which-can-shrink-but-not-grow/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/we-shall-never-achieve-harmony-with-land-any-more-than-we-shall/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Wilderness is the very stuff America is made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/wilderness-is-the-very-stuff-america-is-made-of/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [The landscape of any farm is the owner's portrait of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/the-landscape-of-any-farm-is-the-owner-s-portrait-of-himself/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [If we lose our wilderness, we have nothing left, in my opinion, worth fighting for; or to be more exact, a completely industrialized United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/if-we-lose-our-wilderness-we-have-nothing-left-in-my-opinion-worth/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) [Explore all 254 Aldo Leopold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) ## More Chopping quotes > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/) Sally Struthers > [There's a point in me where it's beyond sad, seeing the state of the world today. It's so screwed up. It's terrible, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/there-s-a-point-in-me-where-it-s-beyond-sad-seeing-the-state-of-the/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [After Nicholas hung up the phone, he watched his mother carry buckets and garden tools across the couch grass toward a bed that would,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-irwin/after-nicholas-hung-up-the-phone-he-watched-his-mother-carry-buckets/) [Stephen M. Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-irwin/) > [The American Constitution, one of the few modern political documents drawn up by men who were forced by the sternest circumstances to think out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-american-constitution-one-of-the-few-modern-political-documents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [On the other end of the spectrum, we can't use this permission to sometimes say no and use it as a wand to wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/on-the-other-end-of-the-spectrum-we-can-t-use-this-permission-to/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [Now that's a tree worth chopping down. -Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/futurama/now-that-s-a-tree-worth-chopping-down-fry/) [Futurama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/futurama/) > [If you’re chopping and changing the team you don’t get that word I can’t pronounce beginning with ‘C’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/if-you-re-chopping-and-changing-the-team-you-don-t-get-that-word-i/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [I can only tell you there's a lot of bad things going on. They're chopping off heads in Syria, and they're chopping off heads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-can-only-tell-you-there-s-a-lot-of-bad-things-going-on-they-re/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [First, the three of us holed up in winter in a cabin and took the 500 hours down to twelve hours. Then we found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/first-the-three-of-us-holed-up-in-winter-in-a-cabin-and-took-the-500/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [A lot of people think medicine hunting is all Chris trekking through the jungle. Or, for that matter, the chiefs and (male) elders he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-helene/a-lot-of-people-think-medicine-hunting-is-all-chris-trekking-through/) [Zoe Helene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-helene/) > [Liars are experts in chopping logic and missing the truth slightly - 'Did God say not to eat from any tree?' In order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/liars-are-experts-in-chopping-logic-and-missing-the-truth-slightly/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [ The specific trigger for me was when the President \[Barack Obama\] put Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block. Why I got into… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/the-specific-trigger-for-me-was-when-the-president-barack-obama-put/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [..."Fun?" you ask. "Weren't feminists these grim-faced, humorless, antifamily, karate-chopping ninjas who were bitter because they couldn't get a man?" Well, in fact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-douglas/fun-you-ask-weren-t-feminists-these-grim-faced-humorless-antifamily/) [Susan J. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-j-douglas/) > [We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy--sun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-like-tenant-farmers-chopping-down-the-fence-around-our-house/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 104 Chopping quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have read many definitions of what is a conservationist, and written not a few myself, but I suspect that the best one is written not with a pen, but with an axe. It is a matter of what a man thinks about while chopping, or while deciding what to chop. 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