--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Environmentalism is a way of seeing our…" description: "\"Environmentalism is a way of seeing our place within the biosphere.\" — David Suzuki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png" --- # Environmentalism is a way of seeing our place within the… ![“Environmentalism is a way of seeing our place within the biosphere.” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png) > “Environmentalism is a way of seeing our place within the biosphere.” [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Environmentalism frames humanity as part of the biosphere, encouraging stewardship and sustainable living. **In simple terms:** See ourselves as part of nature, not apart. Key Takeaway Live sustainably within Earth's ecosystems. Themes environment stewardship interconnectedness Mood hopeful concerned Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - urban planning - corporate policy - education - personal lifestyle choices Key Concepts ecology sustainability systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance development and ecological health? - What personal actions reflect biospheric awareness? A Different Perspective Economic growth often conflicts with ecological balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biosphere/) [Environmentalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmentalism/) ## Related quotes > [I've tried to approach environmentalism the same way I do my climbing: by setting small, concrete goals that build on each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-ve-tried-to-approach-environmentalism-the-same-way-i-do-my-climbing/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [“Nothing is more important to human beings than an ecologically functioning, life sustaining biosphere on the earth. It is the only habitable place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-guth/nothing-is-more-important-to-human-beings-than-an-ecologically/) Joseph Guth > [“Gaia is a thin spherical shell of matter that surrounds the incandescent interior; it begins where the crustal rocks meet the magma of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/gaia-is-a-thin-spherical-shell-of-matter-that-surrounds-the/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [What I really intend to achieve is to be that fly on the wall, and to try and observe as much as I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjan-sundaram/what-i-really-intend-to-achieve-is-to-be-that-fly-on-the-wall-and-to/) [Anjan Sundaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjan-sundaram/) > [Between thinking and seeing, there is a place called knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/between-thinking-and-seeing-there-is-a-place-called-knowing/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [“Once you start seeing this place for the madhouse it is, you can’t stop seeing it that way. It’s everywhere, everyone. It doesn’t make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-mckenna/once-you-start-seeing-this-place-for-the-madhouse-it-is-you-can-t/) [Jed McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-mckenna/) > [There are some things in the world we can't change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/there-are-some-things-in-the-world-we-can-t-change/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [This is suicidal... our home is the biosphere. That's a very thin layer of air, water and land where all life exists. It's fixed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/this-is-suicidal-our-home-is-the-biosphere-that-s-a-very-thin-layer/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [There are some things in the world we can't change- gravity, entropy, the speed of light, and our biological nature that requires clean air,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/there-are-some-things-in-the-world-we-can-t-change-gravity-entropy/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Protecting the biosphere should be our highest priority or else we sicken and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/protecting-the-biosphere-should-be-our-highest-priority-or-else-we/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Other things, like capitalism, free enterprise, the economy, currency, the market, are not forces of nature, we invented them. They are not immutable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/other-things-like-capitalism-free-enterprise-the-economy-currency-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Scientists and supercomputers have amplified our ability to look ahead. For decades, experts have warned us that human numbers, technology, hyper-consumption and a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/scientists-and-supercomputers-have-amplified-our-ability-to-look/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism isn't a discipline or specialty. It's a way of seeing our place in the world. And we need everybody to see the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-isn-t-a-discipline-or-specialty-it-s-a-way-of-seeing/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-has-failed/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [It's always been a dream of mine, of exploring the living world, of classifying all the species and finding out what makes up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/it-s-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-of-exploring-the-living-world-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) ## More by David Suzuki > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Over and over, we hear politicians say they can't spend our tax dollars on environmental protection when the economy is so fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/over-and-over-we-hear-politicians-say-they-can-t-spend-our-tax/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Each of us now has 2.27 kg (5 lbs) of plastic embedded in our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/each-of-us-now-has-2-27-kg-5-lbs-of-plastic-embedded-in-our-bodies/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/nature-surrounds-us-from-parks-and-backyards-to-streets-and-alleyways/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The human brain had a vast memory storage. It made us curious and very creative. Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-human-brain-had-a-vast-memory-storage-it-made-us-curious-and-very/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-pollute-the-air-water-and-soil-that-keep-us-alive-and-well-and/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The one thing I feel is very hopeful, however, is the overwhelming participation of women in the movement for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-one-thing-i-feel-is-very-hopeful-however-is-the-overwhelming/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“As we distance ourselves further from the natural world, we are increasingly surrounded by and dependent on our own inventions. We become enslaved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/as-we-distance-ourselves-further-from-the-natural-world-we-are/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/with-an-estimated-population-of-nine-billion-people-by-2050-we-cannot/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-has-failed/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) [Explore all 212 David Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More Biosphere quotes > [It's always been a dream of mine, of exploring the living world, of classifying all the species and finding out what makes up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/it-s-always-been-a-dream-of-mine-of-exploring-the-living-world-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [The living environment is the biosphere, the thin layer around the world of living organisms. We're part of that. Our existence is dependent on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-living-environment-is-the-biosphere-the-thin-layer-around-the/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Using less of the Earth’s resources more efficiently and productively in a circular economy and making the transition from carbon-based fuels to renewable energies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/using-less-of-the-earth-s-resources-more-efficiently-and-productively/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [I firmly believe that contemporary spiritual use of entheogenic drugs is one of humankind's brightest hopes for overcoming the ecological crisis from which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ott/i-firmly-believe-that-contemporary-spiritual-use-of-entheogenic-drugs/) Jonathan Ott > [The schedules are crammed with shows urging us to travel further, drive faster, build bigger, buy more, yet none of them are deemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-monbiot/the-schedules-are-crammed-with-shows-urging-us-to-travel-further/) [George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-monbiot/) > [Certainly for me, as an astrobiologist, science fiction has played an important role. One of the quandaries of our field is that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grinspoon/certainly-for-me-as-an-astrobiologist-science-fiction-has-played-an/) [David Grinspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grinspoon/) > [“Nothing is more important to human beings than an ecologically functioning, life sustaining biosphere on the earth. It is the only habitable place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-guth/nothing-is-more-important-to-human-beings-than-an-ecologically/) Joseph Guth > [ “\[Religious belief is\] outmoded and ridiculous. \[Belief in gods was a\] worn out but once useful crutch in mankind's journey towards truth. We consider… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-atkins/religious-belief-is-outmoded-and-ridiculous-belief-in-gods-was-a-worn/) [P.W. Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-atkins/) > [Plants with leaves no more efficient than today's solar cells could out-compete real plants, crowding the biosphere with an inedible foliage. Tough omnivorous bacteria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-eric-drexler/plants-with-leaves-no-more-efficient-than-today-s-solar-cells-could/) [K. Eric Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-eric-drexler/) > [The ability of human beings to be creative depends fundamentally on the health and well-being of our biosphere, the few kilometres of air, water,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-patterson/the-ability-of-human-beings-to-be-creative-depends-fundamentally-on/) [Freeman Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-patterson/) > [Protecting the biosphere should be our highest priority or else we sicken and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/protecting-the-biosphere-should-be-our-highest-priority-or-else-we/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [This is suicidal... our home is the biosphere. That's a very thin layer of air, water and land where all life exists. It's fixed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/this-is-suicidal-our-home-is-the-biosphere-that-s-a-very-thin-layer/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [...no matter how complex or affluent, human societies are nothing but subsystems of the biosphere, the Earth's thin veneer of life, which is ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-smil/no-matter-how-complex-or-affluent-human-societies-are-nothing-but/) [Vaclav Smil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-smil/) > [Keep an eye on the weather, which is changing faster than predicted, and on the new diseases escaping or being made, even as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/keep-an-eye-on-the-weather-which-is-changing-faster-than-predicted/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [There are some things in the world we can't change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/there-are-some-things-in-the-world-we-can-t-change/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) [Browse all 85 Biosphere quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biosphere/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Environmentalism is a way of seeing our place within the biosphere.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Suzuki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our-place-within-the-biosphere/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biosphere" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our-place-within-the-biosphere/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/david-suzuki-1744_biosphere_environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our_2326678.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Environmentalism is a way of seeing our place within the biosphere.” — David Suzuki", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Suzuki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Environmentalism is a way of seeing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our-place-within-the-biosphere/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-is-a-way-of-seeing-our-place-within-the-biosphere/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```