--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We may be entering a new phase of…" description: "\"We may be entering a new phase of history, a time when we begin to rediscover . . . the traditional teaching that power must entail restraint and respo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg" --- # We may be entering a new phase of history, a time when we… ![“We may be entering a new phase of history, a time when we begin to rediscover . . . the traditional teaching that power must entail restraint and responsibility, the ancient awareness that we are interdependent with all of nature and that our sense of community must take in the whole of creation.” quote by Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg) > “We may be entering a new phase of history, a time when we begin to rediscover . . . the traditional teaching that power must entail restraint and responsibility, the ancient awareness that we are interdependent with all of nature and that our sense of community must take in the whole of creation.” [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He calls for a return to traditional ideas that power requires restraint, responsibility, and ecological interdependence. **In simple terms:** Power should be balanced with responsibility and respect for nature. Key Takeaway Adopt responsible stewardship. Themes environment responsibility interdependence community Mood concerned hopeful Type ethical political When to use this quote - policy making - community planning - education reform Key Concepts political philosophy ecology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies enforce responsible power? - What role does community play in environmental stewardship? A Different Perspective Implementing restraint can conflict with economic interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-history/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraint/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Nevertheless, it seems to me that today’s believers need a presentation of the Church’s traditional teaching that is simple and easily accessible, adapted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-philippe/nevertheless-it-seems-to-me-that-today-s-believers-need-a/) [Jacques Philippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-philippe/) > [Environmental history was . . . born out of a moral purpose, with strong political commitments behind it, but also became, as it matured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/environmental-history-was-born-out-of-a-moral-purpose-with-strong/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [There is little history in the study of nature, and there is little nature in the study of history. I want to show how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/there-is-little-history-in-the-study-of-nature-and-there-is-little/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [Environmental historians . . . insist that we have got to go . . . down to the earth itself as an agent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/environmental-historians-insist-that-we-have-got-to-go-down-to-the/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [You cannot move on to a new phase in life if you bring your old baggage with you, let the bad go, and move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-read-johnson/you-cannot-move-on-to-a-new-phase-in-life-if-you-bring-your-old/) Patrick Read Johnson > [“We will enter into a new phase in which the Leviathan, so to speak, will become the body formed to make possible the incarnation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-evola/we-will-enter-into-a-new-phase-in-which-the-leviathan-so-to-speak/) [Julius Evola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-evola/) > [In any art movement, the art has to move into a new phase - a filmmaker has a desire to make a film that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mclaren/in-any-art-movement-the-art-has-to-move-into-a-new-phase-a-filmmaker/) [Norman McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mclaren/) > [“Humans are moving into a new phase, one based on the knowledge that talking about their feelings has never got them anywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/humans-are-moving-into-a-new-phase-one-based-on-the-knowledge-that/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [“Sometimes it was funny - the passion he put into each new phase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/sometimes-it-was-funny-the-passion-he-put-into-each-new-phase/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) > [I think that we're moving into this new phase of television where audiences are really embracing stories with a beginning, middle, and end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlton-cuse/i-think-that-we-re-moving-into-this-new-phase-of-television-where/) [Carlton Cuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlton-cuse/) > [You can become something you don't want to become, but it's a change, a new phase. Hopefully one you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-diamond/you-can-become-something-you-don-t-want-to-become-but-it-s-a-change-a/) [Jason Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-diamond/) > [Today it is time to give the government a new lease of life and this new phase which is as demanding as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/today-it-is-time-to-give-the-government-a-new-lease-of-life-and-this/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [Being a grandparent is whole new phase in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-whately/being-a-grandparent-is-whole-new-phase-in-your-life/) [Kevin Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-whately/) > [We are entering a new phase in human history - one in which fewer and fewer workers will be needed to produce the goods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/we-are-entering-a-new-phase-in-human-history-one-in-which-fewer-and/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [I wanted a new phase in my life I needed something new. I stepped back, started doing song writing and various business ventures down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmad-balshe/i-wanted-a-new-phase-in-my-life-i-needed-something-new-i-stepped-back/) [Ahmad Balshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmad-balshe/) ## More by Donald Worster > [Human domination over nature is quite simply an illusion, a passing dream by a naive species. It is an illusion that has cost us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/human-domination-over-nature-is-quite-simply-an-illusion-a-passing/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [Environmental history was . . . born out of a moral purpose, with strong political commitments behind it, but also became, as it matured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/environmental-history-was-born-out-of-a-moral-purpose-with-strong/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [Rain is a blessing when it falls gently on parched fields, turning the earth green, causing the birds to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/rain-is-a-blessing-when-it-falls-gently-on-parched-fields-turning-the/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [Do what we will, the Colorado will one day find an unimpeded way to the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/do-what-we-will-the-colorado-will-one-day-find-an-unimpeded-way-to/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [There is little history in the study of nature, and there is little nature in the study of history. I want to show how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/there-is-little-history-in-the-study-of-nature-and-there-is-little/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) > [Environmental historians . . . insist that we have got to go . . . down to the earth itself as an agent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/environmental-historians-insist-that-we-have-got-to-go-down-to-the/) [Donald Worster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) [Explore all 7 Donald Worster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [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/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We may be entering a new phase of history, a time when we begin to rediscover . . . the traditional teaching that power must entail restraint and responsibility, the ancient awareness that we are interdependent with all of nature and that our sense of community must take in the whole of creation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Worster" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-history-a-time-when-we-begin-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-history-a-time-when-we-begin-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/donald-worster-50170_ancient_we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-histor_1364070.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We may be entering a new phase of history, a time when we begin to rediscover . . . the traditional teaching…” — Donald Worster", "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": "Donald Worster", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-worster/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We may be entering a new...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-history-a-time-when-we-begin-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-worster/we-may-be-entering-a-new-phase-of-history-a-time-when-we-begin-to/#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 } } ] } ```