--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When man continues to destroy nature, he…" description: "\"When man continues to destroy nature, he saws the very branch on which he sits since the rational protection of nature is at the same time the protecti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png" --- # When man continues to destroy nature, he saws the very… ![“When man continues to destroy nature, he saws the very branch on which he sits since the rational protection of nature is at the same time the protection of mankind” quote by Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png) > “When man continues to destroy nature, he saws the very branch on which he sits since the rational protection of nature is at the same time the protection of mankind” [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human actions harming the environment ultimately damage the very foundations that support humanity. **In simple terms:** Harming nature harms ourselves. Key Takeaway Protect nature to protect humanity. Themes environment interdependence responsibility Mood concerned reflective Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - community activism - personal lifestyle choices Key Concepts ecology sustainability human impact Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to reduce your ecological footprint? - How can societies balance development with environmental stewardship? A Different Perspective It may overlook short-term economic pressures that prioritize growth over conservation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protection/) ## Related quotes > [“The photographer is now charging real beasts, beleaguered and too rare to kill. 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They always think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/people-today-have-forgotten-they-re-really-just-a-part-of-nature-yet/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [“Our bloodlust to destroy as much of Nature as possible will be exposed for what it is: the jealous rage of a failed artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petronius-jablonski/our-bloodlust-to-destroy-as-much-of-nature-as-possible-will-be/) Petronius Jablonski > [“Nature is just an aspect of what men hope to achieve. But to destroy nature is the true victory of hell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoenix-z-courtney/nature-is-just-an-aspect-of-what-men-hope-to-achieve-but-to-destroy/) Phoenix Z Courtney > [“We speak of love when we destroy nature. It sounds like innocence of cruel arrogance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/we-speak-of-love-when-we-destroy-nature-it-sounds-like-innocence-of/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I dont understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it vandalism, but when we destroy something by nature we call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/i-dont-understand-why-when-we-destroy-something-created-by-man-we/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [“It is a turn of events that highlights a certain human arrogance about our destructive powers. It is only hubris to imagine that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-blackwell/it-is-a-turn-of-events-that-highlights-a-certain-human-arrogance/) Andrew Blackwell > [We're a part of nature. As we destroy nature, we destroy ourselves. It's a selfish thing to want to protect nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/we-re-a-part-of-nature-as-we-destroy-nature-we-destroy-ourselves-it-s/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [To be modern is to destroy nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/to-be-modern-is-to-destroy-nature/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [The world needs to listen to the cry of the earth, which is asking for help. If you carry on killing people and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davi-kopenawa-yanomami/the-world-needs-to-listen-to-the-cry-of-the-earth-which-is-asking-for/) [Davi Kopenawa Yanomami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davi-kopenawa-yanomami/) > [“I don’t understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it vandalism, but when we destroy something by nature we call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-understand-why-when-we-destroy-something-created-by-man-we-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In the long run, the aggressive civilizations destroy themselves, almost always. It's their nature. They can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/in-the-long-run-the-aggressive-civilizations-destroy-themselves/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Humankind has not learned about balance, let alone practiced it. It is guided by greed and ambition, steered by fear. In this way it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-l-weiss/humankind-has-not-learned-about-balance-let-alone-practiced-it-it-is/) [Brian L. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-l-weiss/) > [Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/grace-does-not-destroy-nature-it-perfects-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) ## More by Gerald Durrell > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [ Gradually the magic of the island \[Corfu\] settled over us as gently and clingingly as pollen. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/gradually-the-magic-of-the-island-corfu-settled-over-us-as-gently-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [They were maps that lived, maps that one could study, frown over, and add to; maps, in short, that really meant something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/they-were-maps-that-lived-maps-that-one-could-study-frown-over-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“It's all your fault, Mother,' said Larry austerely; 'you shouldn't have brought us up to be so selfish.' 'I like that!' exclaimed Mother. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/it-s-all-your-fault-mother-said-larry-austerely-you-shouldn-t-have/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [As I watched the pulsing fire among the trees and heard the beat of the drum merge and tremble with the voices, forming an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/as-i-watched-the-pulsing-fire-among-the-trees-and-heard-the-beat-of/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Each day had a tranquility a timelessness about it so that you wished it would never end. But then the dark skin of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/each-day-had-a-tranquility-a-timelessness-about-it-so-that-you-wished/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [We stared at the odd garment and wondered what it was for. 'What is it?' asked Larry at length. 'It's a bathing costume, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/we-stared-at-the-odd-garment-and-wondered-what-it-was-for-what-is-it/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“Lying spread-eagled in the silky water, gazing into the sky, only moving my hands and feet slightly to keep afloat, I was looking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/lying-spread-eagled-in-the-silky-water-gazing-into-the-sky-only/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“Larry was always full of ideas about things of which he had no experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/larry-was-always-full-of-ideas-about-things-of-which-he-had-no/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“No sooner were they drowsing pleasantly than the Magenpies would start the food call, one doing the hiccoughs while the other did the piping.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/no-sooner-were-they-drowsing-pleasantly-than-the-magenpies-would/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“The noise of drinking was exhilarating. Champagne corks popped and the pale, chrysanthemum-coloured liquid, whispering gleefully with bubbles, hissed into the glasses; heavy red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/the-noise-of-drinking-was-exhilarating-champagne-corks-popped-and-the/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [My childhood in Corfu shaped my life. If I had the craft of Merlin, I would give every child the gift of my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/my-childhood-in-corfu-shaped-my-life-if-i-had-the-craft-of-merlin-i/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [The great ecosystems are like complex tapestries - a million complicated threads, interwoven, make up the whole picture. Nature can cope with small rents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/the-great-ecosystems-are-like-complex-tapestries-a-million/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [There is no first world and third world. There is only one world, for all of us to live and delight in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/there-is-no-first-world-and-third-world-there-is-only-one-world-for/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Until we consider animal life to be worthy of the consideration and reverence we bestow upon old books and pictures and historic monuments, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/until-we-consider-animal-life-to-be-worthy-of-the-consideration-and/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) [Explore all 67 Gerald Durrell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) ## More Branches quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... 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For every grain of sand is a mystery; so is every daisy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mountford/where-is-the-subject-that-does-not-branch-out-into-infinity-for-every/) [William Mountford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mountford/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [“The branches do not support the root. But the root supports the branches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-branches-do-not-support-the-root-but-the-root-supports-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We're the only branch of government that explains itself in writing every time itmakes a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-white/we-re-the-only-branch-of-government-that-explains-itself-in-writing/) [Byron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-white/) > [Certainly in the United States, you have a constituency in the form of the weapons laboratories, and you also have the branches of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/certainly-in-the-united-states-you-have-a-constituency-in-the-form-of/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [ \[The judiciary is\] the least dangerous branch of our government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bickel/the-judiciary-is-the-least-dangerous-branch-of-our-government/) Alexander Bickel > [ For some unknown reason, this \[antiabortion\] branch of Christianity cherishes the unborn and hates the living person. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/for-some-unknown-reason-this-antiabortion-branch-of-christianity/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. 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McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) Browse all 1,228 Branches quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When man continues to destroy nature, he saws the very branch on which he sits since the rational protection of nature is at the same time the protection of mankind", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerald Durrell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he-saws-the-very-branch-on-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Branches" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he-saws-the-very-branch-on-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/432/gerald-durrell-9611_branches_when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he_3124487.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When man continues to destroy nature, he saws the very branch on which he sits since the rational protection…” — Gerald Durrell", "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": "Gerald Durrell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When man continues to destroy nature,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he-saws-the-very-branch-on-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/when-man-continues-to-destroy-nature-he-saws-the-very-branch-on-which/#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 } } ] } ```