Art of living Quote by Derrick Jensen
““There have existed, and for the time being still exist, many cultures whose members refuse to cut the vocal cords of the planet, and refuse to enter into the deadening deal which we daily accept as part of living. It is perhaps significant that prior to contact with Western Civilization many of these cultures did not have rape, nor did they have child abuse (the Okanagans of what is now British Columbia, to provide just one example, had neither word nor concept in their language corresponding to the abuse of a child.)””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Endgame: The End of the World as We Know It, 2005
Some cultures live without harming the planet or perpetuating abuse, showing alternatives to modern destructive norms.
In simple terms: Certain societies avoid environmental damage and abuse.
Key Takeaway
Learn from cultures that protect nature and vulnerable people.
Themes
environment
culture
violence
colonialism
alternatives
Mood
critical
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- environmental activism
- education reform
- policy making
- community building
Key Concepts
anthropology
ethics
ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we adopt non‑violent practices?
- What barriers prevent cultural preservation?
A Different Perspective
Modern societies may resist change despite evidence.
![“To put it in context, the federal government was, at the beginning [of the Vancouver meeting], talking about a $15-per-tonne floor for carbon emissions. We're at $30 a tonne, so we're already double that. But our economy is growing at a faster rate - three per cent of GDP is our projected growth…” quote by Christy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84e/christy-clark-24327_british_to-put-it-in-context-the-federal-governm_720204.jpg)
![“I realized Jack [Kerouac] was deeply committed to writing. Kesey was just as deeply committed to living and experiencing the lives of others; for him writing was just a part of living.” quote by Sterling Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1a/sterling-lord-55520_art-of-living_i-realized-jack-kerouac-was-deeply-commi_11675.jpg)
