Deep sadness Quote by Peter Matthiessen
![“There's an elegiac quality in watching [American wilderness] go, because it's our own myth, the American frontier, that's deteriorating before our eyes. I feel a deep sorrow that my kids will never get to see what I've seen, and their kids will see nothing; there's a deep sadness whenever I look…” quote by Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86b/peter-matthiessen-5795_deep-sadness_there-s-an-elegiac-quality-in-watching-a_1276424.jpg)
“There's an elegiac quality in watching [American wilderness] go, because it's our own myth, the American frontier, that's deteriorating before our eyes. I feel a deep sorrow that my kids will never get to see what I've seen, and their kids will see nothing; there's a deep sadness whenever I look at nature now.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The River of Doubt”, 1977
Expresses sorrow over the loss of the American wilderness, a cultural myth fading before future generations.
In simple terms: Nature’s loss feels tragic.
Key Takeaway
Preserve and cherish natural heritage.
Themes
environment
nostalgia
legacy
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
Type
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- family outings
- environmental activism
- education
Key Concepts
conservation
cultural myth
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we protect remaining wild places?
- What stories keep the frontier spirit alive?
A Different Perspective
Preservation efforts may be too late for some species.
![“The Arctic has a call that is compelling. The distant mountains [of the Brooks Range in Alaska] make one want to go on and on over the next ridge and over the one beyond. The call is that of a wilderness known only to a few...This last American wilderness must remain sacrosanct.” quote by William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60f/william-o-douglas-2931_alaska_the-arctic-has-a-call-that-is-compelling_2192460.jpg)
