Acres Quote by John Muir
“Uncle Sam is not often called a fool in business matters, yet he has sold millions of acres of timber land at two dollars and a half an acre on which a single tree was worth more than a hundred dollars. But this priceless land has been patented, and nothing can be done now about the crazy bargain… a bad, black business from beginning to end.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Environmental Commentary, early 20th century, null
Selling undervalued natural resources leads to long‑term loss despite short‑term profit.
In simple terms: Cheap land today, costly loss tomorrow.
Key Takeaway
Beware short‑term gains that sacrifice future value.
Themes
environment
economics
conservation
shorttermism
longtermrisk
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
advisory
critical
When to use this quote
- real estate deals
- timber sales
- policy making
- investment decisions
Key Concepts
resource valuation
market failure
ethical business
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden values are ignored in cheap deals?
- How can we protect resources from exploitation?
A Different Perspective
Short‑term profit can mask hidden ecological and financial costs.
![“[Footnote:] Pliny the Elder described a Whale called "Balaena or Whirlpool, which is so long and broad as to take up more in length and breadth than two acres of ground." This brings up again the old question: Are the classics doomed? Our ancestors believed that four years of this sort of…” quote by Will Cuppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/will-cuppy-7569_acres_footnote-pliny-the-elder-described-a-wha_84284.jpg)
