--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every good thing great and small needs…" description: "\"Every good thing great and small needs defense\" — John Muir" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png" --- # Every good thing great and small needs defense ![“Every good thing great and small needs defense” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png) > “Every good thing great and small needs defense” [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even small good things require protection to endure. **In simple terms:** Good things need defense. Key Takeaway Protect and nurture valuable things. Themes environment conservation value defense scale Mood cautious determined Type ethical practical When to use this quote - gardening - community projects - heritage sites Key Concepts Ecology stewardship resource management Questions to Reflect On - What deserves protection? - How to balance defense and freedom? A Different Perspective Overprotectiveness can stifle growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Great Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-small-513236/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-defense-513235/) [Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small/) [Small Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-needs-513237/) [Very good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-good/) ## Related quotes > [The idea of wilderness needs no defense. It only needs more defenders. Remaining silent about the destruction of nature is an endorsement of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/the-idea-of-wilderness-needs-no-defense-it-only-needs-more-defenders/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/the-idea-of-wilderness-needs-no-defense-it-only-needs-defenders/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Be the measure great or small, let it be honest in every part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/be-the-measure-great-or-small-let-it-be-honest-in-every-part/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [It's not how much or how little you have that makes you great or small, but how much or how little you are with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samson-raphael-hirsch/it-s-not-how-much-or-how-little-you-have-that-makes-you-great-or/) [Samson Raphael Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samson-raphael-hirsch/) > [God is great not just because nothing is too big for Him. God is great because nothing is too small for Him, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/god-is-great-not-just-because-nothing-is-too-big-for-him-god-is-great/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Australia's great, but we're so small. L.A. is such a hub for creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-flip/australia-s-great-but-we-re-so-small-l-a-is-such-a-hub-for-creativity/) [G Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-flip/) > [Of all your troubles, great and small, the greatest are the ones that don't happen at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/of-all-your-troubles-great-and-small-the-greatest-are-the-ones-that/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [America is too great for small dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/america-is-too-great-for-small-dreams/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no great; there is no small; in the mind that causeth all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zitkala-sa/there-is-no-great-there-is-no-small-in-the-mind-that-causeth-all/) [Zitkala-Sa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zitkala-sa/) > [It's great to have a small place in their history, all that the Yankees mean and everything, that's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-boone/it-s-great-to-have-a-small-place-in-their-history-all-that-the/) [Aaron Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-boone/) > [Do great in the small things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/do-great-in-the-small-things/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Every man stamps his value on himself... man is made great or small by his own will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/every-man-stamps-his-value-on-himself-man-is-made-great-or-small-by/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/plan-for-what-is-difficult-while-it-is-easy-do-what-is-great-while-it/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [In everything both great and small, We see the Hand of God in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-steiner-rice/in-everything-both-great-and-small-we-see-the-hand-of-god-in-all/) [Helen Steiner Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-steiner-rice/) > [God's creatures, great and small... eat them one, eat them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-simone-sr/god-s-creatures-great-and-small-eat-them-one-eat-them-all/) [John A Simone Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-simone-sr/) ## More by John Muir > [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [...full of God's thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/full-of-god-s-thoughts-a-place-of-peace-and-safety-amid-the-most/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“Here are the roots of all the life of the valleys, and here more simply than elsewhere is the eternal flux of nature manifested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/here-are-the-roots-of-all-the-life-of-the-valleys-and-here-more/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/spring-work-is-going-on-with-joyful-enthusiasm/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Our lives are rounded with a sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/our-lives-are-rounded-with-a-sleep/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/another-glorious-day-the-air-as-delicious-to-the-lungs-as-nectar-to/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Long, blue, spiky-edged shadows crept out across the snow-fields, while a rosy glow, at first scarce discernible, gradually deepened and suffused every mountain-top, flushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/long-blue-spiky-edged-shadows-crept-out-across-the-snow-fields-while/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/this-grand-show-is-eternal-it-is-always-sunrise-somewhere-the-dew-is/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-one-tugs-at-a-single-thing-in-nature-he-finds-it-attached-to-the/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [In studying the fate of our forest king, we have thus far considered the action of purely natural causes only; but, unfortunately, man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/in-studying-the-fate-of-our-forest-king-we-have-thus-far-considered/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The forests of America, however slighted by man, must have been a great delight to God; for they were the best he ever planted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-forests-of-america-however-slighted-by-man-must-have-been-a-great/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Man seems to be the only animal whose food soils him, making necessary much washing and shield-like bibs and napkins. Moles living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-seems-to-be-the-only-animal-whose-food-soils-him-making-necessary/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/as-long-as-i-live-i-ll-hear-waterfalls-and-birds-and-winds-sing-i-ll/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) [Explore all 409 John Muir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## More Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) [Tasha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-marie/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) [Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every good thing great and small needs defense", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Muir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-defense/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-defense/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/588/john-muir-678_defense_every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-d_2444108.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every good thing great and small needs defense” — John Muir", "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 Muir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every good thing great and small...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-defense/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/every-good-thing-great-and-small-needs-defense/#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 } } ] } ```