--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The railway 'opens up' a country as a…" description: "\"“The railway 'opens up' a country as a site for civilization; the trailway should 'open up' a country as an escape from civilization... The path of the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/benton-mackaye-42462_journey_the-railway-opens-up-a-country-as-a-site_369436.jpg" --- # The railway 'opens up' a country as a site for… ![“The railway 'opens up' a country as a site for civilization; the trailway should 'open up' a country as an escape from civilization... The path of the trailway should be as 'pathless' as possible; it should be the minimum consistent with practical accessibility.” quote by Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/benton-mackaye-42462_journey_the-railway-opens-up-a-country-as-a-site_369436.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/benton-mackaye-42462_journey_the-railway-opens-up-a-country-as-a-site_369436.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e8/benton-mackaye-42462_journey_the-railway-opens-up-a-country-as-a-site_369436.jpg) > ““The railway 'opens up' a country as a site for civilization; the trailway should 'open up' a country as an escape from civilization... The path of the trailway should be as 'pathless' as possible; it should be the minimum consistent with practical accessibility.”” [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The railway integrates civilization into nature, while a trail should provide an escape, offering minimal yet practical access to wilderness. **In simple terms:** Trails let us retreat from civilization with limited impact. Key Takeaway Design trails that preserve wilderness while remaining usable. Themes conservation wilderness accessibility civilization escape Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - hiking - eco‑tourism - forest management - urban planning - outdoor education Key Concepts landscape architecture environmental ethics minimalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure trails remain low‑impact? - What design features best balance access and preservation? A Different Perspective Balancing access and preservation can lead to overuse and habitat damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Railway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/railway/) ## Related quotes > [Man's endeavour to cross even the most difficult terrain with railway lines has produced some of the most stunning marvels of engineering of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/man-s-endeavour-to-cross-even-the-most-difficult-terrain-with-railway/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [The budget is forward looking growth engine and will promote transparency and integrity. It is for the common people. This budget shows where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-budget-is-forward-looking-growth-engine-and-will-promote/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Clearly, there needs to be an increase in the capacity of the railway system. 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It can beat people, but it can't prevent the poor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-india-the-poverty-is-so-vast-that-the-state-cannot-control-it-it/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More by Benton MacKaye > [A period recourse into the wilds is not a retreat into secret silent sanctums to escape a wicked world, it is to take breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/a-period-recourse-into-the-wilds-is-not-a-retreat-into-secret-silent/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [Wilderness is two things-fact and feeling. It is a fund of knowledge and a spring of influence. It is the ultimate source of health-terrestrial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/wilderness-is-two-things-fact-and-feeling-it-is-a-fund-of-knowledge/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [However useful may be the National Parks and Forests of the West for those affording the Pullman fare to reach them, what is needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/however-useful-may-be-the-national-parks-and-forests-of-the-west-for/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [“The ultimate purpose? There are three things: 1) to walk; 2) to see; 3) to see what you see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/the-ultimate-purpose-there-are-three-things-1-to-walk-2-to-see-3-to/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [There are three things: to walk, to see, and to see what you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/there-are-three-things-to-walk-to-see-and-to-see-what-you-see/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [One function, at least, of true wilderness is to provide a refuge from the crassitudes of civilization-whether visible, intangible, audible-whether of billboard, of pavement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/one-function-at-least-of-true-wilderness-is-to-provide-a-refuge-from/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [My own doctrine of organization is that any body of people coming together for a purpose (whatever it may be) should consist of persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benton-mackaye/my-own-doctrine-of-organization-is-that-any-body-of-people-coming/) [Benton MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benton-mackaye/) > [For we need this thing wilderness far more than it needs us. 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Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Cocoon's cry to first fly, Travels thousands of miles— So much in so little life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-negi/cocoon-s-cry-to-first-fly-travels-thousands-of-miles-so-much-in-so/) [Ritu Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-negi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Loving yourself is a journey, not a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/loving-yourself-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/) Dzuco Huỳnh > [Life is a journey, not a destination. Fall into the deep - rise to new heights. .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-basumatary/life-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-fall-into-the-deep-rise-to-new/) [Ashish Basumatary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-basumatary/) > [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“May the seas bend to your journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoraida-c-rdova/may-the-seas-bend-to-your-journey/) [Zoraida Córdova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoraida-c-rdova/) [Browse all 11,861 Journey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The railway 'opens up' a country as a site for civilization; the trailway should 'open up' a country as an escape from civilization... 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