Art Quote by Edward Abbey
““No more cars in national parks. Let the people walk. Or ride horses, bicycles, mules, wild pigs--anything--but keep the automobiles and the motorcycles and all their motorized relatives out. We have agreed not to drive our automobiles into cathedrals, concert halls, art museums, legislative assemblies, private bedrooms and the other sanctums of our culture; we should treat our national parks with the same deference, for they, too, are holy places. An increasingly pagan and hedonistic people (thank God!), we are learning finally that the forests and mountains and desert canyons are holier than our churches. Therefore let us behave accordingly.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Monkey Wrench” (1975) or similar environmental writing
Advocates removing motorized vehicles from sacred cultural spaces like national parks, treating nature as holy and protecting it from modern intrusion.
In simple terms: Keep cars out of parks; treat nature as sacred.
Key Takeaway
Preserve natural sanctuaries from vehicle impact.
Themes
environment
conservation
spirituality
modernity
Mood
passionate
defiant
Type
manifesto
environmental
When to use this quote
- national park visits
- policy debates
- environmental activism
- travel planning
Key Concepts
Ecocentrism
cultural reverence
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives can you offer for park access?
- How does viewing nature as holy change your behavior?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue limited vehicle access is necessary for accessibility.
