--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I discovered a new plant, I sat down…" description: "\"When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a minute or a day, to make its acquaintance and hear what it had to tell... I asked the boulder..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/john-muir-678_acquaintance_when-i-discovered-a-new-plant-i-sat-down_1710945.png" --- # When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a… ![“When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a minute or a day, to make its acquaintance and hear what it had to tell... I asked the boulders I met, whence they came and whither they were going.” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/john-muir-678_acquaintance_when-i-discovered-a-new-plant-i-sat-down_1710945.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/john-muir-678_acquaintance_when-i-discovered-a-new-plant-i-sat-down_1710945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/john-muir-678_acquaintance_when-i-discovered-a-new-plant-i-sat-down_1710945.png) > “When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a minute or a day, to make its acquaintance and hear what it had to tell... I asked the boulders I met, whence they came and whither they were going.” [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. Engaging with nature deeply reveals its stories and wisdom, fostering respect and curiosity. **In simple terms:** Listen to nature’s stories. Key Takeaway Spend quiet time observing plants and rocks. Themes nature mindfulness curiosity Mood peaceful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - hiking - gardening - nature journaling - environmental education - meditation Key Concepts ecology personal reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does nature teach you? - How can you connect more with the environment? A Different Perspective Modern life may limit such immersion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Asked Boulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-boulders-1245679/) [Boulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boulders/) [Boulders Met](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boulders-met-1245678/) [Discovered New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovered-new-285549/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Mets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mets/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [New Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-plant-475033/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) ## Related quotes > [You have a feeling of achievement when you discover a new plant, even a plant that has no use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-evans-schultes/you-have-a-feeling-of-achievement-when-you-discover-a-new-plant-even/) [Richard Evans Schultes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-evans-schultes/) > [“You look like someone who’s discovered a new species of human”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/you-look-like-someone-who-s-discovered-a-new-species-of-human/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [No longer conscious of my movement, I discovered a new unity with nature. I had found a new source of power and beauty, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/no-longer-conscious-of-my-movement-i-discovered-a-new-unity-with/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [NASA scientists have discovered a new form of life, unfortunately, it won't date them either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/nasa-scientists-have-discovered-a-new-form-of-life-unfortunately-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [No one has ever discovered anything new using a map. Just throw it and start finding your own new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/no-one-has-ever-discovered-anything-new-using-a-map-just-throw-it-and/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I have discovered nothing new; I have only perceived what I already knew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-discovered-nothing-new-i-have-only-perceived-what-i-already/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought I was managing my expectations, but on hearing the news I discovered new and unfamiliar vocal tones. Perhaps I should do another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/i-thought-i-was-managing-my-expectations-but-on-hearing-the-news-i/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [Everything I discovered was new and most of it was really valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hamilton/everything-i-discovered-was-new-and-most-of-it-was-really-valuable/) [Alice Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hamilton/) > [“And it is strange: a few moments after the cars that brought us down drive off, I become aware that already I have discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-masters/and-it-is-strange-a-few-moments-after-the-cars-that-brought-us-down/) [Alexander Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-masters/) > [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/) > [If life throws a boulder of you, throw a volley of boulders back, times two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/if-life-throws-a-boulder-of-you-throw-a-volley-of-boulders-back-times/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [You have to take the long view. First, when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, man has already progressed to the point where a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-f-stone/you-have-to-take-the-long-view-first-when-moses-came-down-from-mt/) [I. F. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-f-stone/) > [The secret of this kind of climbing, is like Zen. Don't think. Just dance along. It's the easiest thing in the world, actually easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-secret-of-this-kind-of-climbing-is-like-zen-don-t-think-just/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I was at Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco hiking when a boulder came hurling down the mountainside and smashed my left hand. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/i-was-at-mount-tamalpais-near-san-francisco-hiking-when-a-boulder/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [The Witch's Life" When I was a child there was an old woman in our neighborhood whom we called The Witch. All day she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/the-witch-s-life-when-i-was-a-child-there-was-an-old-woman-in-our/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) ## 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 Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I'm not dating Prateik; he is just a good acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/i-m-not-dating-prateik-he-is-just-a-good-acquaintance/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/moderation-is-the-inseparable-companion-of-wisdom-but-with-it-genius/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. I seem almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-greatest-embarrassment-of-my-political-career-has-been-that/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [A woman who can't forgive should never have more than a nodding acquaintance with a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-who-can-t-forgive-should-never-have-more-than-a-nodding/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 484 Acquaintance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a minute or a day, to make its acquaintance and hear what it had to tell... 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