--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world, we are told, was made…" description: "\"The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a presumption not supported by all the facts... Why should man value himself as more than a small..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png" --- # The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a… ![“The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a presumption not supported by all the facts... Why should man value himself as more than a small part of the one great unit of creation?” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png) > “The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a presumption not supported by all the facts... Why should man value himself as more than a small part of the one great unit of creation?” [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. Human significance is modest within the vast creation; humility replaces anthropocentrism. **In simple terms:** We are a small part of creation. Key Takeaway Adopt humility toward nature. Themes environment humility anthropocentrism cosmic perspective ethics Mood reflective serious Type philosophical environmental When to use this quote - conservation work - education - policy advocacy - personal reflection Key Concepts ecology philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How does humility change your environmental actions? - What responsibilities arise from being part of a larger whole? A Different Perspective Human impact remains significant despite humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Presumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presumption/) [Stewardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stewardship/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Vegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan/) [Veganism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veganism/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The world, we are told, was made especially for man — a presumption not supported by all the facts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especially-for-man-a-presumption-not-3/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a presumption not supported by all the facts. A numerous class of men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especially-for-man-a-presumption-not-2/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Facts, or what a man believes to be facts, are always delightful - Get your facts first, and - then you can distort 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/facts-or-what-a-man-believes-to-be-facts-are-always-delightful-get/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [No picture of life can have any veracity that does not admit the odious facts. A man's power is hooped in by a necessity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-picture-of-life-can-have-any-veracity-that-does-not-admit-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Patriotism is one of the unalterable facts of man's nature. It is a virtue if you like it, and a vice if you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-eastman/patriotism-is-one-of-the-unalterable-facts-of-man-s-nature-it-is-a/) [Max Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-eastman/) > [“No one must leave here and so carry to the world, together with the sign impressed on his skin, the evil tidings of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/no-one-must-leave-here-and-so-carry-to-the-world-together-with-the/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [We will not return No one must leave here and so carry to the world, together with the sign impressed on his skin, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/we-will-not-return-no-one-must-leave-here-and-so-carry-to-the-world/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [Just about everyone is quick to judge plastic surgery, especially on a man. We've all seen people who end up looking a little scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/just-about-everyone-is-quick-to-judge-plastic-surgery-especially-on-a/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [Vulnerability is tough, especially being a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-frye/vulnerability-is-tough-especially-being-a-man/) [Channing Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-frye/) > [“Now especially since man has the strength to destroy the world, it is the responsibility of man to keep it alive, in all its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cooper/now-especially-since-man-has-the-strength-to-destroy-the-world-it-is/) [Susan Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cooper/) > [Especially if it's man-to-man, I gotta find a way to create separation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/especially-if-it-s-man-to-man-i-gotta-find-a-way-to-create-separation/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [Try first to be a man of value; success will follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/try-first-to-be-a-man-of-value-success-will-follow/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Man's value before God is estimated by the dispositions of his heart, its uprightness, its good will, its charity, and not by keenness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-catherine-emmerich/man-s-value-before-god-is-estimated-by-the-dispositions-of-his-heart/) Anne Catherine Emmerich > [Strive not to be a success, but rather to be a man of value, beliefs, and kind gesture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/strive-not-to-be-a-success-but-rather-to-be-a-man-of-value-beliefs/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/try-not-to-become-a-man-of-success-but-rather-to-become-a-man-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) ## 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 Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a presumption not supported by all the facts... Why should man value himself as more than a small part of the one great unit of creation?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Muir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especially-for-man-a-presumption-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especially-for-man-a-presumption-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/john-muir-678_compassion_the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especiall_1717629.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world, we are told, was made especially for man - a presumption not supported by all the facts... Why…” — 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": "The world, we are told, was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especially-for-man-a-presumption-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-world-we-are-told-was-made-especially-for-man-a-presumption-not/#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 } } ] } ```