--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In making war with nature, there was risk…" description: "\"In making war with nature, there was risk of loss in winning.\" — John McPhee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/john-mcphee-11840_loss_in-making-war-with-nature-there-was-risk_45066.jpg" --- # In making war with nature, there was risk of loss in… ![“In making war with nature, there was risk of loss in winning.” quote by John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/john-mcphee-11840_loss_in-making-war-with-nature-there-was-risk_45066.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/john-mcphee-11840_loss_in-making-war-with-nature-there-was-risk_45066.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/john-mcphee-11840_loss_in-making-war-with-nature-there-was-risk_45066.jpg) > “In making war with nature, there was risk of loss in winning.” [John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human attempts to dominate natural systems can cause unintended damage, making the victory costly or hollow. **In simple terms:** Dominating nature often backfires. Key Takeaway Control can be self‑defeating. Themes environmental ethics human hubris risk assessment balance of power sustainability Mood cautious reflective somber Type aphorism cautionary statement When to use this quote - large‑scale engineering projects - deforestation policies - climate mitigation strategies - urban expansion plans - resource extraction ventures Key Concepts interdependence unintended consequences ecological resilience Practical Applications - environmental impact assessments - policy risk analysis Questions to Reflect On - What hidden costs arise when we try to dominate nature? - How can we measure success without harming ecosystems? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Loss Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss-winning-662380/) [Making War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-war-288003/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-risk-662379/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-loss-662381/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-nature-662378/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [And peradventure we have more cause to thank Him for our loss than for our winning; for His wisdom better seeth what is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/and-peradventure-we-have-more-cause-to-thank-him-for-our-loss-than/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from bank operational failures, such as rogue traders, fraudulent sales practices, and cyber risks. 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It's not in our nature really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-fox/because-we-have-more-women-in-power-now-frankly-we-are-less-likely-to/) [Phoebe Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-fox/) > [“It all made Pino realize that the earth did not know war, that nature would go on no matter what horror one man might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/it-all-made-pino-realize-that-the-earth-did-not-know-war-that-nature/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) > [Hobbes clearly proves, that every creature Lives in a state of war by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/hobbes-clearly-proves-that-every-creature-lives-in-a-state-of-war-by/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More by John McPhee > [“For nonfiction projects, ideas are everywhere. 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