---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not so poor we must destroy our…"
description: "\"We are not so poor we must destroy our wilderness, nor so rich we can afford to.\" — Newton B. Drury"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg"
---

#  We are not so poor we must destroy our wilderness, nor so…

![“We are not so poor we must destroy our wilderness, nor so rich we can afford to.” quote by Newton B. Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg)

> “We are not so poor we must destroy our wilderness, nor so rich we can afford to.”

Newton B. Drury

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We must balance environmental stewardship with economic needs, avoiding extremes.

**In simple terms:** Balance nature and wealth.

Key Takeaway

Seek sustainable solutions.

Themes

environment economics ethics

Mood

concerned optimistic

Type

ethical inspirational

When to use this quote

- policy making
- business planning
- community projects

Key Concepts

sustainability resource management

Questions to Reflect On

- What compromises can be made?
- How can profit support conservation?

A Different Perspective

Economic growth often pressures environmental protection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Wilderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wilderness/)

## Related quotes

> [We're not so poor that we have to spend our wilderness or so rich that we can afford to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/we-re-not-so-poor-that-we-have-to-spend-our-wilderness-or-so-rich/)

Newton B. Drury

> [What is proposed herein is that we have no right, nor any ethical justification, for clearing land or using wilderness while we tread over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/what-is-proposed-herein-is-that-we-have-no-right-nor-any-ethical/)

[Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/)

> [Those shining stars, he liked to point out, were one of the special treats for people like us who lived out in the wilderness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/those-shining-stars-he-liked-to-point-out-were-one-of-the-special/)

[Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/)

> [I would say I'm a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, if that contradiction can make sense, because in Bolivia, we have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/i-would-say-i-m-a-fiscal-conservative-and-a-social-liberal-if-that/)

[Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/)

> [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

> [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [There is an interdependence between those who have and those who have not. The process of giving exalts the poor and humbles the rich.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-g-romney/there-is-an-interdependence-between-those-who-have-and-those-who-have/)

[Marion G. Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-g-romney/)

> [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Forgive me for noting that conservatives seem to believe that the rich will work harder if we give them more, and the poor will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-dionne/forgive-me-for-noting-that-conservatives-seem-to-believe-that-the/)

[E. J. Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-dionne/)

> [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [One of the most abused country on earth is Mexico. The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/)

[Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/)

> [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

> [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/)

[Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/)

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Newton B. Drury

> [By patience and determination, rather than by a harsh upsetting of tradition, we move toward our national aspirations… This is the way we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/by-patience-and-determination-rather-than-by-a-harsh-upsetting-of/)

Newton B. Drury

> [We're not so poor that we have to spend our wilderness or so rich that we can afford to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/we-re-not-so-poor-that-we-have-to-spend-our-wilderness-or-so-rich/)

Newton B. Drury

Explore all 3 Newton B. Drury quotes

## More Money quotes

> [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/)

[Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Maybe you can,t buy a big house.. A new car.. A huge diamond ring.. But if you have just one true friend who loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy/maybe-you-can-t-buy-a-big-house-a-new-car-a-huge-diamond-ring-but-if/)

Cathy

> [“Don't allow money to become the yardstick by which you measure the worth of the world around you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james-pritchard/don-t-allow-money-to-become-the-yardstick-by-which-you-measure-the/)

[Andrew James Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james-pritchard/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [I doubt that we Americans can come to terms with our money neuroses without understanding the more florid pathology of the very rich for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/i-doubt-that-we-americans-can-come-to-terms-with-our-money-neuroses/)

[Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/)

> [“The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/the-writer-must-earn-money-in-order-to-be-able-to-live-and-to-write/)

[Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/)

[Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/)

> [The man who works for the gold in the job rather than for the money in the pay envelope, is the fellow who gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-french-johnson/the-man-who-works-for-the-gold-in-the-job-rather-than-for-the-money/)

Joseph French Johnson

[Browse all 45,172 Money quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We are not so poor we must destroy our wilderness, nor so rich we can afford to.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Newton B. Drury"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-wilderness-nor-so-rich-we-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Money"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-wilderness-nor-so-rich-we-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b74/newton-b-drury-76841_money_we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-w_2872095.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We are not so poor we must destroy our wilderness, nor so rich we can afford to.” — Newton B. Drury",
                "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": "Newton B. Drury",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-b-drury/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We are not so poor we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-wilderness-nor-so-rich-we-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-b-drury/we-are-not-so-poor-we-must-destroy-our-wilderness-nor-so-rich-we-can/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
