---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's vital that we be good stewards of…"
description: "\"It's vital that we be good stewards of our waterways - including protecting them from potentially devastating disasters that can't be undone.\" — John E..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg"
---

#  It's vital that we be good stewards of our waterways…

![“It's vital that we be good stewards of our waterways - including protecting them from potentially devastating disasters that can't be undone.” quote by John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg)

> “It's vital that we be good stewards of our waterways - including protecting them from potentially devastating disasters that can't be undone.”

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

It stresses the responsibility to protect waterways from irreversible damage, urging proactive stewardship.

**In simple terms:** Protect water resources to prevent irreversible harm.

Key Takeaway

Act responsibly to safeguard waterways.

Themes

environment stewardship responsibility

Mood

concerned urgent

Type

advocacy educational

When to use this quote

- policy advocacy
- community clean‑ups
- infrastructure planning
- education campaigns

Key Concepts

sustainability risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- What actions can you take locally to protect waterways?
- How can communities prepare for water‑related disasters?

A Different Perspective

Balancing economic development with environmental protection can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Disasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disasters/)

## Related quotes

> [We must be good stewards of our water resources and ensure they are available for generations to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-must-be-good-stewards-of-our-water-resources-and-ensure-they-are/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [We owe it to Americans to be good stewards of their money, and I intend to uphold that commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-owe-it-to-americans-to-be-good-stewards-of-their-money-and-i/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [“we were not born the same and we are all not born with the same abilities and capabilities, but no matter what seed God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/we-were-not-born-the-same-and-we-are-all-not-born-with-the-same/)

[Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/)

> [Our government is a gift from God, who calls us to be good stewards of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shimkus/our-government-is-a-gift-from-god-who-calls-us-to-be-good-stewards-of/)

[John Shimkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shimkus/)

> [The more you learn about the real vastness of space and the real challenges of space travel, the more completely you appreciate the necessity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-spaihts/the-more-you-learn-about-the-real-vastness-of-space-and-the-real/)

[Jon Spaihts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-spaihts/)

> [We have not wondered enough at the delights God has given us to appreciate them, and be good stewards. We have overworked the land,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/we-have-not-wondered-enough-at-the-delights-god-has-given-us-to/)

[Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/)

> [As climbers, we need to learn to be good stewards of the land and take care of these places where we are spending so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/as-climbers-we-need-to-learn-to-be-good-stewards-of-the-land-and-take/)

[Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/)

> [We are blessed with great national resources, and we should be good stewards of those.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-are-blessed-with-great-national-resources-and-we-should-be-good/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [We can be about jobs and growth and be good stewards of our environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-can-be-about-jobs-and-growth-and-be-good-stewards-of-our/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [We've have to heed our Biblical obligation to be good stewards of the Earth after leaving the Garden of Eden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-ve-have-to-heed-our-biblical-obligation-to-be-good-stewards-of-the/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [If some want to misuse the generosity of our nation, and re-examine what was previously examined, they should know the fire of the anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/if-some-want-to-misuse-the-generosity-of-our-nation-and-re-examine/)

[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/)

> [Depression is like the worst disease you can get. It's devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/depression-is-like-the-worst-disease-you-can-get-it-s-devastating/)

[Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/)

> [At some point in the future - possibly the very near future - Britain will be hit by a deadly pandemic, and its impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/at-some-point-in-the-future-possibly-the-very-near-future-britain/)

[Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/)

> [The whole thing with so many people empathising with 'The Office' has made me aware of how people aren't doing jobs they love, aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-davis/the-whole-thing-with-so-many-people-empathising-with-the-office-has/)

[Lucy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-davis/)

> [And then another letter had come from Christopher, so devastating that Amelia wondered how mere scratches of ink on paper could rip someone's soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/and-then-another-letter-had-come-from-christopher-so-devastating-that/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

## More by John E. James

> [I plan on actually governing in a nonpartisan fashion because I think that 90% of the problems we face are nonpartisan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-plan-on-actually-governing-in-a-nonpartisan-fashion-because-i-think/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I'm grateful to Kroger for investing in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-m-grateful-to-kroger-for-investing-in-our-community/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I believe that free but fair trade is an absolute imperative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-believe-that-free-but-fair-trade-is-an-absolute-imperative/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [We need to make sure that we protect our babies. But we also need to make sure we protect our rights, I willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-need-to-make-sure-that-we-protect-our-babies-but-we-also-need-to/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I don't give up that easily and neither does Michigan!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-don-t-give-up-that-easily-and-neither-does-michigan/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I didn't see the George Floyd video - I felt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-didn-t-see-the-george-floyd-video-i-felt-it/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I think that those who would prejudge me based on an affiliation are doing themselves a disservice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-think-that-those-who-would-prejudge-me-based-on-an-affiliation-are/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [As a congressman, I am focused on being a good steward of our natural resources while rolling back regulations that suffocate hardworking families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/as-a-congressman-i-am-focused-on-being-a-good-steward-of-our-natural/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [I have led amendments to protect and grow our domestic manufacturing and to establish a parents' bill of rights to make sure schools support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-have-led-amendments-to-protect-and-grow-our-domestic-manufacturing/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [The best way to advocate for Michigan is not on Twitter, the best way to advocate for Michigan, to fix this nation's problems, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/the-best-way-to-advocate-for-michigan-is-not-on-twitter-the-best-way/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [People want somebody who understands how to run a business before they make regulations that will affect business. They want somebody who understands what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/people-want-somebody-who-understands-how-to-run-a-business-before/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [Growing Michigan's economy and strengthening national security are among my top priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/growing-michigan-s-economy-and-strengthening-national-security-are/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [Career politicians have become increasingly more ineffective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/career-politicians-have-become-increasingly-more-ineffective/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

[Explore all 100 John E. James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

## More Devastating quotes

> [And then another letter had come from Christopher, so devastating that Amelia wondered how mere scratches of ink on paper could rip someone's soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/and-then-another-letter-had-come-from-christopher-so-devastating-that/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [The whole thing with so many people empathising with 'The Office' has made me aware of how people aren't doing jobs they love, aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-davis/the-whole-thing-with-so-many-people-empathising-with-the-office-has/)

[Lucy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-davis/)

> [At some point in the future - possibly the very near future - Britain will be hit by a deadly pandemic, and its impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/at-some-point-in-the-future-possibly-the-very-near-future-britain/)

[Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/)

> [Depression is like the worst disease you can get. It's devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/depression-is-like-the-worst-disease-you-can-get-it-s-devastating/)

[Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/)

> [If some want to misuse the generosity of our nation, and re-examine what was previously examined, they should know the fire of the anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/if-some-want-to-misuse-the-generosity-of-our-nation-and-re-examine/)

[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/)

> [That was devastating to me: how a bright, energetic kid could turn doomed and desperate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/that-was-devastating-to-me-how-a-bright-energetic-kid-could-turn/)

[Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/)

> [The most devastating effect of sin is that by it, we are blinded to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-most-devastating-effect-of-sin-is-that-by-it-we-are-blinded-to-it/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [I have personally seen what a devastating medical condition can cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/i-have-personally-seen-what-a-devastating-medical-condition-can-cost/)

[Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/)

> [. . . when I look round to see how we can win the war I see that there is only one sure path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-i-look-round-to-see-how-we-can-win-the-war-i-see-that-there-is/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [Infidelity is horrible - there's nothing worse than that; it's devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-capshaw/infidelity-is-horrible-there-s-nothing-worse-than-that-it-s/)

[Jessica Capshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-capshaw/)

> [You're gonna meet tons of different people throughout your life, and it's totally worth it to stick your neck out a little bit if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/you-re-gonna-meet-tons-of-different-people-throughout-your-life-and/)

[Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/)

> [In the years to come, the combination of climate change and population growth could have a devastating effect on the planet and, needless to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-philbrick/in-the-years-to-come-the-combination-of-climate-change-and-population/)

[Nathaniel Philbrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-philbrick/)

> [“When polarization confronts the United States’ Madisonian check-and-balance political system, the result is devastating. – Francis Fukuyama”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-polarization-confronts-the-united-states-madisonian-check-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Defeat is most devastating at the moment of victory" Saint Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defeat-is-most-devastating-at-the-moment-of-victory-saint-dane/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It would be devastating for America if Donald Trump won, and it would be devastating for the anti-gun-violence movement. But we would be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murphy/it-would-be-devastating-for-america-if-donald-trump-won-and-it-would/)

[Chris Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murphy/)

Browse all 157 Devastating quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's vital that we be good stewards of our waterways - including protecting them from potentially devastating disasters that can't be undone.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John E. James"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-our-waterways-including/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Devastating"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-our-waterways-including/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ab/john-e-james-5940_devastating_it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-o_587243.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's vital that we be good stewards of our waterways - including protecting them from potentially…” — John E. James",
                "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": "John E. James",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's vital that we be good...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-our-waterways-including/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/it-s-vital-that-we-be-good-stewards-of-our-waterways-including/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```