--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we try to pick out anything by…" description: "\"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.\" — John Muir" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png" --- # When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it… ![“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png) > “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” [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. Everything is interconnected; isolating one element reveals its ties to the whole universe. **In simple terms:** All things are linked. Key Takeaway Recognize interdependence. Themes interconnectedness holism nature Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - environmental policy - education - personal reflection Key Concepts Ecology systems theory Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing connections change your decisions? - What is lost when we view things as separate? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on isolation can ignore individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. -John Muir, naturalist, explorer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-hitched-to-3/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it is hitched to everything else in the universe.”70”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-webb/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-is-hitched-to/) [Amy Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-webb/) > [When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. One fancies a heart like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-hitched-to-4/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [I try to pick roles that excite and interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranitha-subhash/i-try-to-pick-roles-that-excite-and-interest-me/) [Pranitha Subhash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranitha-subhash/) > [I do listen to other music though, and try to pick up what is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-listen-to-other-music-though-and-try-to-pick-up-what-is-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think my thing is that I try and pick up on things that other people have maybe not picked up on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-think-my-thing-is-that-i-try-and-pick-up-on-things-that-other/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I've been around some really good leaders. You try to pick little things from them and put them in your own game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-ve-been-around-some-really-good-leaders-you-try-to-pick-little/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [Many times you make music and someone decides to try and pick the best of everything. But if you wait, you sometimes fall out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-beats/many-times-you-make-music-and-someone-decides-to-try-and-pick-the/) [Kenny Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-beats/) > [If you were to try and pick him out of a group of boys, you’d be wrong. He’d be the other one. 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People would try and pick on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/i-was-smaller-than-everyone-else-people-would-try-and-pick-on-me/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [When we're picking someone who we want to spend a lot of time with, even perhaps for the rest of our lives, we generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/when-we-re-picking-someone-who-we-want-to-spend-a-lot-of-time-with/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [The thing that is really hard about adaptation is that I try to only pick things I love because if it is something where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/the-thing-that-is-really-hard-about-adaptation-is-that-i-try-to-only/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“Maybe calling it being hitched ain’t the prettiest way to say you’re married, but it’s the truth to my mind and true in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/maybe-calling-it-being-hitched-ain-t-the-prettiest-way-to-say-you-re/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) ## 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. 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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. 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So are we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-trees-reflected-in-the-river-they-are-unconscious-of-a-spiritual/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [Canada is the worst polluter in the world right now. 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We must urgently explore realistic ways to address the different scientific, technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennart-bengtsson/it-is-important-to-allow-a-broad-debate-on-energy-and-climate-we-must/) Lennart Bengtsson > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [The government should set a goal for a clean environment but not mandate how that goal should be implemented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/the-government-should-set-a-goal-for-a-clean-environment-but-not/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [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/) > [Be Thou praised, my Lord, of our Sister Mother Earth, which sustains and hath us in rule, and produces divers fruits with coloured flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/be-thou-praised-my-lord-of-our-sister-mother-earth-which-sustains-and/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [“There is no one as hypocritical as a man who massacred a tree in one place and cooled in the shadow of a tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-no-one-as-hypocritical-as-a-man-who-massacred-a-tree-in-one/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 2,423 Environmental quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Muir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-hitched-to-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-hitched-to-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/john-muir-678_environmental_when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itse_2474901.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” — 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": "When we try to pick out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-hitched-to-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-try-to-pick-out-anything-by-itself-we-find-it-hitched-to-2/#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 } } ] } ```