Balanced Quote by Paula Gunn Allen
“What the Indians are saying is that they are recognizing the right of wilderness to be wilderness. Wilderness is not an extension of human need or of human justification. It is itself and it is inviolate, itself. This does not mean that, therefore, we become separated from it, because we don't. We stay connected if, once in our lives, we learn exactly what that connection is between our heart, our womb, our mind, and wilderness. And when each of us has her wilderness within her, we can be together in a balanced kind of way. The forever, we have that within us.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “Wilderness and the Self” in *The Sacred Hoop* (1997)
True wilderness exists independently of human needs, yet humans remain intrinsically linked to it through deep, bodily awareness.
In simple terms: Wilderness is its own, but we are connected to it inside.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate personal connection to nature.
Themes
environment
spirituality
identity
interconnectedness
balance
Mood
reflective
reverent
inspired
Type
philosophical
spiritual
environmental
When to use this quote
- personal meditation
- environmental activism
- education
- therapy
Key Concepts
ecology
indigenous wisdom
mind‑body connection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “wilderness within” mean to you?
- How can we honor both independence and connection?
A Different Perspective
Human domination narratives can overlook ecological limits.
![“[Industrialism's soon diminishing] capacity to supply human needs could be prevented if men exercised any restraint or foresight in their present frenzied exploitation.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad0/bertrand-russell-69_capacity_industrialism-s-soon-diminishing-capacit_227162.jpg)
