--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No dogma taught by the present…" description: "\"No dogma taught by the present civilization seems to form so insuperable an obstacle in a way of a right understanding of the relations which culture s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/john-muir-678_animal_no-dogma-taught-by-the-present-civilizat_993099.png" --- # No dogma taught by the present civilization seems to form… ![“No dogma taught by the present civilization seems to form so insuperable an obstacle in a way of a right understanding of the relations which culture sustains as to wilderness, as that which declares that the world was made especially for the uses of men. Every animal, plant, and crystal…” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/john-muir-678_animal_no-dogma-taught-by-the-present-civilizat_993099.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/john-muir-678_animal_no-dogma-taught-by-the-present-civilizat_993099.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c8/john-muir-678_animal_no-dogma-taught-by-the-present-civilizat_993099.png) > “No dogma taught by the present civilization seems to form so insuperable an obstacle in a way of a right understanding of the relations which culture sustains as to wilderness, as that which declares that the world was made especially for the uses of men. Every animal, plant, and crystal controverts it in the plainest terms. Yet it is taught from century to century as something ever new and precious, and in the resulting darkness the enormous conceit is allowed to go unchallenged.” [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. Civilization teaches rigid doctrines that clash with nature’s inherent truth, yet persist as precious. **In simple terms:** Society’s dogma opposes natural reality. Key Takeaway Question and challenge entrenched beliefs. Themes environment philosophy dogma culture Mood critical thought‑provoking Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - environmental activism - education - policy making - personal worldview Key Concepts anthropocentrism ecology critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does modern society reflect this conflict? - What natural truths challenge your assumptions? A Different Perspective May generalize all cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) [Crystals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crystals/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/) [Wildness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildness/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Human history has become too much a matter of dogma taught by 'professionals' in ivory towers as though it's all fact. Actually, much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/human-history-has-become-too-much-a-matter-of-dogma-taught-by/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [We can see quite plainly that our present civilization is built on the exploitation of animals, just as past civilisations were built on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-watson/we-can-see-quite-plainly-that-our-present-civilization-is-built-on/) [Donald Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-watson/) > [All Nature's wildness tells the same story: the shocks and outbursts of earthquakes, volcanoes, geysers, roaring, thundering waves and floods, the silent uprush of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/all-nature-s-wildness-tells-the-same-story-the-shocks-and-outbursts/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [A little pure wildness is the one great present want, both of men and sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/a-little-pure-wildness-is-the-one-great-present-want-both-of-men-and/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [In God's wildness lies the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/in-god-s-wildness-lies-the-hope-of-the-world/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Hidden in the glorious wildness like unmined gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/hidden-in-the-glorious-wildness-like-unmined-gold/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“If for a moment you are inclined to regard these taluses as mere draggled, chaotic dumps, climb to the top of one of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/if-for-a-moment-you-are-inclined-to-regard-these-taluses-as-mere/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Wildness was ever sounding in our ears, and Nature saw to it that besides school lessons some of her own lessons should be learned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/wildness-was-ever-sounding-in-our-ears-and-nature-saw-to-it-that/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“This is Nature's own reservation, and every lover of wildness will rejoice with me that by kindly frost it is so well defended.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/this-is-nature-s-own-reservation-and-every-lover-of-wildness-will/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [In God's wildness lies the hope of the world-the great fresh unblighted, unredeemed wilderness. The galling harness of civilization drops off, and wounds heal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/in-god-s-wildness-lies-the-hope-of-the-world-the-great-fresh/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [All the wild world is beautiful, and it matters but little where we go, to highlands or lowlands, woods or plains, on the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/all-the-wild-world-is-beautiful-and-it-matters-but-little-where-we-go/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The radiance in some places is so great as to be fairly dazzling... every crystal, every flower a window opening into heaven, a mirror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-radiance-in-some-places-is-so-great-as-to-be-fairly-dazzling/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [I never have held death in contempt, though in the course of my explorations I have oftentimes felt that to meet one's fate on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-never-have-held-death-in-contempt-though-in-the-course-of-my/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The saints differ from us in their exuberance, the excess of our human talents. Moderation is not their secret. It is in the wildness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-saints-differ-from-us-in-their-exuberance-the-excess-of-our-human/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [“In the United States law, federally designated wilderness is famously defined as 'an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-marris/in-the-united-states-law-federally-designated-wilderness-is-famously/) [Emma Marris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-marris/) ## 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 Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No dogma taught by the present civilization seems to form so insuperable an obstacle in a way of a right understanding of the relations which culture sustains as to wilderness, as that which declares that the world was made especially for the uses of men. Every animal, plant, and crystal controverts it in the plainest terms. 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