Farmers Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“It is only necessary that man should start a fence that Nature should carry it on and complete it. The farmer cannot plow quite up to the rails or wall which he himself has placed, and hence it often becomes a hedgerow and sometimes a coppice.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Walden, Henry David Thoreau, 1854
Human attempts to control nature are limited; nature ultimately reshapes or completes our efforts.
In simple terms: We can start projects, but nature often finishes them.
Key Takeaway
Accept that nature will alter our plans.
Themes
nature
control
humility
Mood
reflective
pensive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- gardening
- construction
- urban planning
- agriculture
Key Concepts
environmentalism
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we design with nature rather than against it?
- What projects should we let nature finish?
A Different Perspective
Nature may render human designs ineffective.
