--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As far as life is concerned, there is no…" description: "\"As far as life is concerned, there is no such thing as \"Nature\". There are only homes. Home is that environment to which the individual has become adap..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/rene-dubos-12577_abstract_as-far-as-life-is-concerned-there-is-no_2387511.jpg" --- # As far as life is concerned, there is no such thing as… ![“As far as life is concerned, there is no such thing as "Nature". There are only homes. Home is that environment to which the individual has become adapted; and almost everything is unnatural outside his range of adaptation. Harmonious equilibrium with nature is an abstract concept with a Platonic…” quote by Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/rene-dubos-12577_abstract_as-far-as-life-is-concerned-there-is-no_2387511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/rene-dubos-12577_abstract_as-far-as-life-is-concerned-there-is-no_2387511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c6c/rene-dubos-12577_abstract_as-far-as-life-is-concerned-there-is-no_2387511.jpg) > “As far as life is concerned, there is no such thing as "Nature". There are only homes. Home is that environment to which the individual has become adapted; and almost everything is unnatural outside his range of adaptation. Harmonious equilibrium with nature is an abstract concept with a Platonic beauty but lacking the flesh and blood of life. It fails, in particular, to convey the creative emergent quality of human existence.” [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that “nature” is a human construct; only environments adapted to individuals truly exist, and true harmony is abstract. **In simple terms:** Nature is a construct; adaptation defines home. Key Takeaway Seek environments that fit you. Themes environment adaptation philosophy Mood analytical thoughtful Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - career choices - living spaces - cultural integration Key Concepts ecology humanism Questions to Reflect On - How does adaptation shape your identity? - Can true harmony exist without compromise? A Different Perspective May ignore objective ecological realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) [Adaptation Harmonious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation-harmonious-5935321/) [Adapted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adapted/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Equilibrium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equilibrium/) [Equilibrium Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equilibrium-nature-1224353/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh/) [Flesh and blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh-and-blood/) [Harmonious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonious/) [Harmonious Equilibrium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonious-equilibrium-912263/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Lacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Platonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/platonic/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Range](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/range/) [Thing Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-nature-1192409/) [Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnatural/) ## Related quotes > [At the very heart and center of existence, pervading the whole manifestation of the divine Idea, there exists one predominant Law. 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What imagination could we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/heaven-and-earth-our-reason-has-driven-all-away-alone-at-last-we-end/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [All our surest statements about the nature of the world are mathematical statements, yet we do not know what mathematics "is"... and so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/all-our-surest-statements-about-the-nature-of-the-world-are/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [Every thing is of the nature of no thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parmenides/every-thing-is-of-the-nature-of-no-thing/) [Parmenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parmenides/) > [One thing is made of another, and nature allows no new creation except at the price of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/one-thing-is-made-of-another-and-nature-allows-no-new-creation-except/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” —John Muir”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-oppenlander/when-one-tugs-at-a-single-thing-in-nature-he-finds-it-attached-to-the-2/) [Richard Oppenlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-oppenlander/) > [The only thing that's in my nature is you love:>](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-coleman/the-only-thing-that-s-in-my-nature-is-you-love/) [Damian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-coleman/) > [“When we tug at a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-we-tug-at-a-single-thing-in-nature-we-find-it-attached-to-the/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-one-tugs-at-a-single-thing-in-nature-he-finds-it-attached-to-the/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“that was the thing about nature: make one lousy rule to describe it and it'll contradict you even if it has to transmogrify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james-duncan/that-was-the-thing-about-nature-make-one-lousy-rule-to-describe-it/) [David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james-duncan/) > [Shuffling is the only thing which Nature cannot undo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/shuffling-is-the-only-thing-which-nature-cannot-undo/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-fairest-thing-in-nature-a-flower-still-has-its-roots-in-earth-and/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [My favourite thing about being in nature is that I feel so small and kind of insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid/my-favourite-thing-about-being-in-nature-is-that-i-feel-so-small-and/) [Sigrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid/) > [A poor relation—is the most irrelevant thing in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-poor-relation-is-the-most-irrelevant-thing-in-nature/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) ## More by Rene Dubos > [... each type of civilization has had diseases peculiar to it and at each period the various social groups in any community also have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/each-type-of-civilization-has-had-diseases-peculiar-to-it-and-at-each/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Human life implies adventure, and there is no adventure without struggles and dangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/human-life-implies-adventure-and-there-is-no-adventure-without/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [...Search for the cause may be a hopeless pursuit because most disease states are the indirect outcome of a constellation of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/search-for-the-cause-may-be-a-hopeless-pursuit-because-most-disease/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Each human being is unique, unprecedented, unrepeatable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/each-human-being-is-unique-unprecedented-unrepeatable/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [But too often the goal of the planners is a universal gray state of health corresponding to absence of disease rather than to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/but-too-often-the-goal-of-the-planners-is-a-universal-gray-state-of/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [With reference to life there is not one nature; there are only associations of states and circumstances, varying from place to place and from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/with-reference-to-life-there-is-not-one-nature-there-are-only/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [It is a disturbing fact that Western civilization, which claims to have achieved the highest standard of health in history, finds itself compelled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/it-is-a-disturbing-fact-that-western-civilization-which-claims-to/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [There is a demon in technology. It was put there by man and man will have to exorcise it before technological civilization can achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/there-is-a-demon-in-technology-it-was-put-there-by-man-and-man-will/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Human life is now molded to a large extent by the changes that man has brought about in his external environment and by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/human-life-is-now-molded-to-a-large-extent-by-the-changes-that-man/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [The earth is literally our mother, not only because we depend on her for nurture and shelter but even more because the human sepcies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/the-earth-is-literally-our-mother-not-only-because-we-depend-on-her/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Clearly, health and disease cannot be defined merely in terms of anatomical, physiological, or mental attributes. Their real measure is the ability of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/clearly-health-and-disease-cannot-be-defined-merely-in-terms-of/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [The belief that we can manage the Earth and improve on Nature is probably the ultimate expression of human conceit, but it has deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/the-belief-that-we-can-manage-the-earth-and-improve-on-nature-is/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [One may wonder indeed whether the pretense of superior health is not itself rapidly becoming a mental aberration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/one-may-wonder-indeed-whether-the-pretense-of-superior-health-is-not/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Nature always strikes back. It takes all the running we can do to remain in the same place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/nature-always-strikes-back-it-takes-all-the-running-we-can-do-to/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) > [Men are naturally most impressed by diseases which have obvious manifestations, yet some of their worst enemies creep on them unobtrusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-dubos/men-are-naturally-most-impressed-by-diseases-which-have-obvious/) [Rene Dubos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) [Explore all 54 Rene Dubos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-dubos/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As far as life is concerned, there is no such thing as \"Nature\". There are only homes. Home is that environment to which the individual has become adapted; and almost everything is unnatural outside his range of adaptation. Harmonious equilibrium with nature is an abstract concept with a Platonic beauty but lacking the flesh and blood of life. 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