Avarice Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“By avarice and selfishness, and a groveling habit, from which none of us is free, of regarding the soil as property, or the means of acquiring property chiefly, the landscape is deformed, husbandry is degraded with us, and the farmer leads the meanest of lives. He knows Nature but as a robber.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau, 1849
Treating nature as property degrades land and humanity, reducing people to mere exploiters.
In simple terms: Seeing nature as property harms both land and people.
Key Takeaway
Respect nature as a shared trust.
Themes
environment
ethics
property
agriculture
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- farming
- urban development
- policy making
Key Concepts
sustainability
stewardship
social justice
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have toward the earth?
- How can societies shift from ownership to stewardship?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep-rooted ownership mindsets is difficult.
