--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have too long treated the natural…" description: "\"We have too long treated the natural world as an adversary rather than as a life-sustaining gift from the Almighty. If man has the genius to build, whi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/gerald-r-ford-2628_ability_we-have-too-long-treated-the-natural-wor_1398619.jpg" --- # We have too long treated the natural world as an adversary… ![“We have too long treated the natural world as an adversary rather than as a life-sustaining gift from the Almighty. If man has the genius to build, which he has, he must also have the ability and the responsibility to preserve.” quote by Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/gerald-r-ford-2628_ability_we-have-too-long-treated-the-natural-wor_1398619.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/gerald-r-ford-2628_ability_we-have-too-long-treated-the-natural-wor_1398619.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/gerald-r-ford-2628_ability_we-have-too-long-treated-the-natural-wor_1398619.jpg) > “We have too long treated the natural world as an adversary rather than as a life-sustaining gift from the Almighty. If man has the genius to build, which he has, he must also have the ability and the responsibility to preserve.” [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity should view nature as a supportive gift, not an opponent, and act responsibly to protect it. **In simple terms:** Nature is a gift, not a foe. Key Takeaway Treat nature as a partner to preserve it. Themes environment responsibility stewardship ethics spirituality Mood concerned reflective Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community projects - personal lifestyle choices - corporate sustainability plans Key Concepts sustainability interdependence moral duty Questions to Reflect On - How can we reconcile economic growth with ecological protection? - What personal habits reflect respect for nature? A Different Perspective Balancing development with preservation can be politically and economically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Adversaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) [Adversary Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversary-life-2977347/) [Almighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Man Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-genius/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-world/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Preserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-preserve-2096563/) [Sustaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustaining/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Treated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treated/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? 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The man is a genius and paved a new way for music and it's very inspiring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-grimmie/skrillex-the-man-is-a-genius-and-paved-a-new-way-for-music-and-it-s/) [Christina Grimmie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-grimmie/) > [“The man of genius may dwell unknown, but one always may recognize the path he has followed into the forest. It was a giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/the-man-of-genius-may-dwell-unknown-but-one-always-may-recognize-the/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [“A wonderful privilege it was to be thus admitted into the soul of a man of genius, to be allowed to share the ecstasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/a-wonderful-privilege-it-was-to-be-thus-admitted-into-the-soul-of-a/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [“Napoleon, the man of genius, did this! But to say that he destroyed his army because he wished to, or because he was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/napoleon-the-man-of-genius-did-this-but-to-say-that-he-destroyed-his/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Gerald R. Ford > [My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/my-fellow-americans-our-long-national-nightmare-is-over-our/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [One of the enduring truths of the nation's capital is that bureaucrats survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/one-of-the-enduring-truths-of-the-nation-s-capital-is-that/) [Gerald R. 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Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [In a democracy, the public has a right to know not only what the government decides, but why and by what process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/in-a-democracy-the-public-has-a-right-to-know-not-only-what-the/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [I had a life-long ambition to be a professional baseball player, but nobody would sign me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/i-had-a-life-long-ambition-to-be-a-professional-baseball-player-but/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [It's more like it is now than it ever has been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/it-s-more-like-it-is-now-than-it-ever-has-been/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Let America symbolize humanity's struggle to conquer nature and master technology. The time has now come for our Government to facilitate the individual's control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/let-america-symbolize-humanity-s-struggle-to-conquer-nature-and/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Personal excellence can be achieved by a visionary goal, through planning, dedicated execution, and total follow-through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/personal-excellence-can-be-achieved-by-a-visionary-goal-through/) [Gerald R. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-r-ford/) > [Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-r-ford/now-therefore-i-gerald-r-ford-president-of-the-united-states-pursuant/) [Gerald R. 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