---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A nation that destroys its soils destroys…"
description: "\"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.\" — Fran..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg"
---

#  A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests…

![“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg)

> “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.”

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

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

Destroying soil harms a nation’s health; forests act as vital lungs for the environment and people.

**In simple terms:** Bad soil and forest loss hurt a country.

Key Takeaway

Protect soil and forests.

Themes

environment health national security

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

environmental inspirational

When to use this quote

- agricultural policy
- urban planning
- education
- reforestation

Key Concepts

sustainability ecosystem services

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions can protect soils?
- How can communities value forests?

A Different Perspective

Economic growth often overlooks environmental costs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Destroys Forests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroys-forests-5699443/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Forests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forests/) [Forests Lungs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forests-lungs-1613792/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Nation Destroys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-destroys-851373/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Soils Destroys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soils-destroys-5699444/)

## Related quotes

> [Forests are the lungs of our land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/forests-are-the-lungs-of-our-land/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-nation-that-destroys-its-soil-destroys-itself/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [“If you think of our planet as a living, breathing organism, the forests are the lungs. They create a perfect balance to our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-bohanec/if-you-think-of-our-planet-as-a-living-breathing-organism-the-forests/)

[Hope Bohanec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-bohanec/)

> [Most people know that forests are the lungs of our planet, literally playing a critical role in every breath we take. And that they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-noth/most-people-know-that-forests-are-the-lungs-of-our-planet-literally/)

[Chris Noth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-noth/)

> [A nation that destroys its own people is a nation without hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/a-nation-that-destroys-its-own-people-is-a-nation-without-hope/)

[Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/)

> [A firm rule must be imposed upon our nation before it destroys itself. The United States needs some theology and geometry, some taste and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/a-firm-rule-must-be-imposed-upon-our-nation-before-it-destroys-itself/)

[John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/)

> [The dissolution of the nation destroys the national religion, and dethrones the national deity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-robertson-smith/the-dissolution-of-the-nation-destroys-the-national-religion-and/)

[William Robertson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-robertson-smith/)

> [“Our march toward self-annihilation has already obliterated ninety percent of the large fish in the oceans and wiped out half of the mature tropical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/our-march-toward-self-annihilation-has-already-obliterated-ninety/)

[Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/)

> [Our global forests are the lungs of the world, and protecting them is fundamental for our survival. When we hand these forests over to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/our-global-forests-are-the-lungs-of-the-world-and-protecting-them-is/)

[Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/)

> [The forests are the lungs of the world. I’ve always believed if you breathe, you’re an environmentalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/the-forests-are-the-lungs-of-the-world-i-ve-always-believed-if-you/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [There is no domestic issue more important to America in the long run than the conservation and proper use of our natural resources, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-nelson/there-is-no-domestic-issue-more-important-to-america-in-the-long-run/)

[Gaylord Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-nelson/)

> [Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/something-will-have-gone-out-of-us-as-a-people-if-we-ever-let-the/)

[Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/)

> [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/)

[Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/)

> [There's a point in me where it's beyond sad, seeing the state of the world today. It's so screwed up. It's terrible, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/there-s-a-point-in-me-where-it-s-beyond-sad-seeing-the-state-of-the/)

[George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/)

> [Darkness, air, water, and sky will come together... and shake the forest to its roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/darkness-air-water-and-sky-will-come-together-and-shake-the-forest-to/)

[Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/)

## More by Franklin D. Roosevelt

> [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [Inquisitiveness is the most useful talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/inquisitiveness-is-the-most-useful-talent/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [I have seen war ... I hate war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-hate-war/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [I have seen war. I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded. I have seen men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/i-have-seen-war-i-have-seen-war-on-land-and-sea-i-have-seen-blood/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [They have given their sons to the military services. They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels. They have made the planes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/they-have-given-their-sons-to-the-military-services-they-have-stoked/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [On the European Front the most important development of the past year has been the crushing offensive of the Great Armies of Russia...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/on-the-european-front-the-most-important-development-of-the-past-year/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [The core of our defense is the faith we have in the institutions we defend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-core-of-our-defense-is-the-faith-we-have-in-the-institutions-we/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [War is a contagion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/war-is-a-contagion/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [Too often in recent history liberal governments have been wrecked on rocks of loose fiscal policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/too-often-in-recent-history-liberal-governments-have-been-wrecked-on/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [The frontier of America is on the Rhine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-frontier-of-america-is-on-the-rhine/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/repetition-does-not-transform-a-lie-into-a-truth/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [The future lies with those wise political leaders who realize that the great public is interested more in Government than in politics. The growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-future-lies-with-those-wise-political-leaders-who-realize-that/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

[Explore all 521 Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

## More Air quotes

> [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/)

[Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

> [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/)

[Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/)

[Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/)

> [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

> [There was a little nook on Air Force Two that contained the vice presidential seal, and I would sort of wedge myself in there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/there-was-a-little-nook-on-air-force-two-that-contained-the-vice/)

[Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/)

> [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/)

[Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [Washington bureaucrats have classified the very air we exhale as a pollutant and have gone unchallenged in this incredible assertion. The logical consequence is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/washington-bureaucrats-have-classified-the-very-air-we-exhale-as-a/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

[Browse all 6,278 Air quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Franklin D. Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroys-itself-forests-are-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Air"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroys-itself-forests-are-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/franklin-d-roosevelt-488_air_a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroy_726659.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and…” — Franklin D. Roosevelt",
                "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": "Franklin D. Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A nation that destroys its soils...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroys-itself-forests-are-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/a-nation-that-destroys-its-soils-destroys-itself-forests-are-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
