---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As to when I shall visit civilization, it…"
description: "\"“As to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be soon, I think. I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant lif..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/everett-ruess-21906_beauty_as-to-when-i-shall-visit-civilization-it_2326376.jpg"
---

#  As to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be…

![“As to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be soon, I think. I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time. I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading…” quote by Everett Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/everett-ruess-21906_beauty_as-to-when-i-shall-visit-civilization-it_2326376.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/everett-ruess-21906_beauty_as-to-when-i-shall-visit-civilization-it_2326376.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/754/everett-ruess-21906_beauty_as-to-when-i-shall-visit-civilization-it_2326376.jpg)

> ““As to when I shall visit civilization, it will not be soon, I think. I have not tired of the wilderness; rather I enjoy its beauty and the vagrant life I lead, more keenly all the time. I prefer the saddle to the streetcar and star-sprinkled sky to a roof, the obscure and difficult trail, leading into the unknown, to any paved highway, and the deep peace of the wild to the discontent bred by cities. Do you blame me then for staying here, where I feel that I belong and am one with the world around me? It is true that I miss intelligent companionship, but there are so few with whom I can share the things that mean so much to me that I have learned to contain myself. It is enough that I am surrounded with beauty… Even from your scant description, I know that I could not bear the routine and humdrum of the life that you are forced to lead. I don't think I could ever settle down. I have known too much of the depths of life already, and I would prefer anything to an anticlimax.””

[Everett Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-ruess/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Prefers the untamed wilderness over civilized life, valuing solitude, beauty, and deep peace despite loneliness.

**In simple terms:** Loves nature, dislikes city life.

Key Takeaway

Seek solitude in nature for inner peace.

Themes

nature solitude freedom discontent

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

philosophical poetic

When to use this quote

- Hiking
- remote living
- creative writing
- personal retreats

Key Concepts

Romanticism existentialism environmentalism

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the wild teach you about yourself?
- How can you balance solitude with community?

A Different Perspective

Loneliness can limit social growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Companionship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/)

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