Conscious Quote by Edward Young
“Nothing in Nature, much less conscious being, Was e'er created solely for itself.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "Night Thoughts" (1765) by Edward Young
Nature does not exist for its own sake; conscious beings are not created solely for themselves.
In simple terms: Nature is not self‑serving, nor are conscious beings created only for themselves.
Key Takeaway
Consider humanity’s place within nature.
Themes
philosophy
nature
existence
anthropocentrism
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- environmental policy
- personal reflection
- education
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
self‑interest
ethical responsibility
environmental ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have toward nature?
- How does consciousness shape our view of purpose?
A Different Perspective
Human-centered views can ignore broader ecological impacts.
![“[T]he creation out of nothing is no object of philosophy; … for it cuts away the root of all speculation, presents no grappling point to thought, … a baseless air-built doctrine, originated solely … to give warrant to … egoism, which … expresses nothing but the command to make Nature – not an…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e1b/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_a-part_t-he-creation-out-of-nothing-is-no-objec_1722295.jpg)
![“To him who feels that Nature is lovely, it appears an end in itself, it has the ground of its existence in itself: … the question, Why does it exist? does not arise. … Nature, as it impresses his senses, has indeed had an origin, has been produced, but not created in the religious sense, … [H]e…” quote by Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c8/ludwig-feuerbach-3406_a-part_to-him-who-feels-that-nature-is-lovely-i_1346912.jpg)
![“[T]hese people lived close to the ground, if you will, and the natural world filled their lives. Creation was a lived reality for them prior to the development of specific ideas about creation.” quote by Terence E. Fretheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a0/terence-e-fretheim-34120_biblical-studies_t-hese-people-lived-close-to-the-ground_3106359.jpg)
![“[The] public path of life Is dirty.” quote by Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b17/edward-young-1446_dirty_the-public-path-of-life-is-dirty-32418_32418.jpg)
