Civilized Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“It is a thorough process, this war with the wilderness - breaking nature, taming the soil. feeding it on oats. The civilized man regards the pine tree as his enemy. He will fell it and let in the light, grub it up and raise wheat or rye there. It is no better than a fungus to him.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Walden, Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Human attempts to dominate nature reduce it to a resource, ignoring its intrinsic value.
In simple terms: Domination of nature loses its worth.
Key Takeaway
Respect natural ecosystems.
Themes
environment
human-nature relationship
exploitation
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- agriculture
- urban planning
- conservation policy
- education
- personal gardening
Key Concepts
Ecology
anthropocentrism
sustainability
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the long‑term impacts of treating nature as a commodity?
- How can we balance development with ecological health?
A Different Perspective
Humans may need to alter land for survival, creating tension between progress and preservation.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
