Animals Quote by David Abram
““How monotonous our speaking becomes when we speak only to ourselves! And how insulting to the other beings – to foraging black bears and twisted old cypresses – that no longer sense us talking to them, but only about them, as though they were not present in our world…Small wonder that rivers and forests no longer compel our focus or our fierce devotion. For we walk about such entities only behind their backs, as though they were not participant in our lives. Yet if we no longer call out to the moon slipping between the clouds, or whisper to the spider setting the silken struts of her web, well, then the numerous powers of this world will no longer address us – and if they still try, we will not likely hear them.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Spell of the Sensuous, David Abram, 1996
Human speech becomes self‑absorbed, ignoring the living world, leading to a loss of connection with nature and its powers.
In simple terms: We talk only to ourselves, neglecting nature.
Key Takeaway
Listen to and engage with the living world.
Themes
environment
communication
alienation
ecology
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- hiking
- meditation
- environmental activism
Key Concepts
anthropocentrism
mindfulness
interconnectedness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you incorporate nature into daily conversation?
- What practices restore attentiveness to non‑human beings?
A Different Perspective
Modern life often prioritizes self‑talk over external awareness.
![“In my personal life, I will do whatever it takes to make a situation comfortable if I sense - if I'm talking to someone [and] I sense there's a silence, I'll try to fill that gap. It makes me very anxious when things get uncomfortable.” quote by Nathan Fielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/397/nathan-fielder-25565_anxious_in-my-personal-life-i-will-do-whatever-i_2608788.jpg)
