--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I say that humans are the only ones in…" description: "\"I say that humans are the only ones in this world that need everything within it. but there is nothing in the world that needs us for its survival. We ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/joseph-boyden-18548_earth_i-say-that-humans-are-the-only-ones-in-t_2766039.png" --- # I say that humans are the only ones in this world that… ![“I say that humans are the only ones in this world that need everything within it. but there is nothing in the world that needs us for its survival. We aren't the masters of the earth. We're the servants.” quote by Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/joseph-boyden-18548_earth_i-say-that-humans-are-the-only-ones-in-t_2766039.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/joseph-boyden-18548_earth_i-say-that-humans-are-the-only-ones-in-t_2766039.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcb/joseph-boyden-18548_earth_i-say-that-humans-are-the-only-ones-in-t_2766039.png) > “I say that humans are the only ones in this world that need everything within it. but there is nothing in the world that needs us for its survival. We aren't the masters of the earth. We're the servants.” [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans depend on Earth, but Earth does not depend on humans; we are stewards, not masters. **In simple terms:** We serve the planet, not control it. Key Takeaway Adopt sustainable, humble practices. Themes environment humility interdependence Mood reflective serious Type ethical environmental When to use this quote - resource management - climate activism - urban planning Key Concepts ecology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you reduce your impact? - What responsibilities do you feel? A Different Perspective Economic growth often conflicts with stewardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Servants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-servants-3206075/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Need World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-world-525560/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-need/) [World Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-needs/) ## Related quotes > [We aren't the masters of the earth. We're the servants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/we-aren-t-the-masters-of-the-earth-we-re-the-servants/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [“Everything you need in the world is yours, all you need to do is to just go get it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evans-biya/everything-you-need-in-the-world-is-yours-all-you-need-to-do-is-to/) [Evans Biya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evans-biya/) > [I think it's wonderful to save the world, but you need to be part of the world, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/i-think-it-s-wonderful-to-save-the-world-but-you-need-to-be-part-of/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [I shall not accept more than I need while others in the world have less than they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-shall-not-accept-more-than-i-need-while-others-in-the-world-have/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Once again, victims of disaster have turned to the UN and the international community in their time of need, .. The world needs the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/once-again-victims-of-disaster-have-turned-to-the-un-and-the/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [“The world needs wisdom as it has never needed it before; and if knowledge continues to increase, the world will need wisdom in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-world-needs-wisdom-as-it-has-never-needed-it-before-and-if/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [To fore fill the need to be in this world is all I ask. I cant pretend to be something that Im not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-knight/to-fore-fill-the-need-to-be-in-this-world-is-all-i-ask-i-cant-pretend/) [Gladys Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-knight/) > [Mercy Corps' partnership with The Hunger Site translates into lifesaving assistance for people in tremendous need around the world. When you visit, click, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-neill/mercy-corps-partnership-with-the-hunger-site-translates-into/) [Dan O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-neill/) > [In their greatest hour of need, the world failed the people of Rwanda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-their-greatest-hour-of-need-the-world-failed-the-people-of-rwanda/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The greatest need in the world at this moment is the transformation of human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-greatest-need-in-the-world-at-this-moment-is-the-transformation/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You have within you all the power you need with which to get whatever you want or need in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-have-within-you-all-the-power-you-need-with-which-to-get-whatever/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Maybe you don't need the whole world to love you, ya know ? maybe you need just one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-you-don-t-need-the-whole-world-to-love-you-ya-know-maybe-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But I love you and I want you and I need you. Can’t you see that? This world has nothing to offer me if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/but-i-love-you-and-i-want-you-and-i-need-you-can-t-you-see-that-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) > [I must let go of my need for the world to love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-loggins/i-must-let-go-of-my-need-for-the-world-to-love-me/) [Kenny Loggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-loggins/) > [“Sometimes you just need to go out in the world and live a little first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalie-howard/sometimes-you-just-need-to-go-out-in-the-world-and-live-a-little-first/) [Amalie Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalie-howard/) ## More by Joseph Boyden > [Being a mixed-blood person of Ojibway and European ancestry, I always found that I only heard one side of the story - that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/being-a-mixed-blood-person-of-ojibway-and-european-ancestry-i-always/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [I believe truly that Canada is a living history and we're going through some of the most important time in this country's short 150 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/i-believe-truly-that-canada-is-a-living-history-and-we-re-going/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [I'm a writer. I should be allowed to speak about my writing at times. And I'm really excited to speak about that. There's nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/i-m-a-writer-i-should-be-allowed-to-speak-about-my-writing-at-times/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [Sometimes, it's not getting what we want that offers us the most important Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/sometimes-it-s-not-getting-what-we-want-that-offers-us-the-most/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [There’s something sexy in cooking for a man who likes my food. Am I growing up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/there-s-something-sexy-in-cooking-for-a-man-who-likes-my-food-am-i/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [When I die, nieces, I want to be cremated, my ashes taken up in a bush plane and sprinkled onto the people in town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/when-i-die-nieces-i-want-to-be-cremated-my-ashes-taken-up-in-a-bush/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [I'm fascinated by the magic realism used by many writers. I think it goes hand-in-hand with the Indian experience. It's a very different way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/i-m-fascinated-by-the-magic-realism-used-by-many-writers-i-think-it/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [America seems to celebrate its more violent past, but Canada doesn't like to recognize those things. The willingness to accept the existence of violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/america-seems-to-celebrate-its-more-violent-past-but-canada-doesn-t/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [“I thought of my mother late that night, after leaving Dorothy, as I followed the moon's path back home across the Moose River. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/i-thought-of-my-mother-late-that-night-after-leaving-dorothy-as-i/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [From a craft standpoint, telling a story in the first-person present tense over the course of 500 pages is a daunting challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/from-a-craft-standpoint-telling-a-story-in-the-first-person-present/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [I'm intrigued by the classic Greek tragedies, as well as by the idea of the Greek chorus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/i-m-intrigued-by-the-classic-greek-tragedies-as-well-as-by-the-idea/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [“Lots of times growing up, I’d just try to do something myself because I believed that being a boy, and being Indian, I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/lots-of-times-growing-up-i-d-just-try-to-do-something-myself-because/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [The beliefs of Native people are no less powerful or important just because they focus on a different "form of magic."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/the-beliefs-of-native-people-are-no-less-powerful-or-important-just/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [During World War I the Canadians were the shock troops. In many historical cases, Canadians have been very proficient at killing, and doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/during-world-war-i-the-canadians-were-the-shock-troops-in-many/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) > [Canada and America are very, very different. It's true that we share a language and many customs. But Americans have a very different view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-boyden/canada-and-america-are-very-very-different-it-s-true-that-we-share-a/) [Joseph Boyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) [Explore all 31 Joseph Boyden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-boyden/) ## More Earth quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [What did you do to save the world today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/what-did-you-do-to-save-the-world-today/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) [Browse all 15,455 Earth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I say that humans are the only ones in this world that need everything within it. but there is nothing in the world that needs us for its survival. We aren't the masters of the earth. 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