--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our enemy is man with his arrogance and…" description: "\"“Our enemy is man with his arrogance and greed. The woodsman in particular. Destroyer of trees. Clearer of land. Owner of fire. While he chops and burn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/ron-koertge-25486_trees_our-enemy-is-man-with-his-arrogance-and_1302369.jpg" --- # Our enemy is man with his arrogance and greed. The… ![“Our enemy is man with his arrogance and greed. The woodsman in particular. Destroyer of trees. Clearer of land. Owner of fire. While he chops and burns and builds, we terrorize his wife, surrounding her as she goes for water. We howl outside his windows half the night, and if that doesn't drive…” quote by Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/ron-koertge-25486_trees_our-enemy-is-man-with-his-arrogance-and_1302369.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/ron-koertge-25486_trees_our-enemy-is-man-with-his-arrogance-and_1302369.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/ron-koertge-25486_trees_our-enemy-is-man-with-his-arrogance-and_1302369.jpg) > ““Our enemy is man with his arrogance and greed. The woodsman in particular. Destroyer of trees. Clearer of land. Owner of fire. While he chops and burns and builds, we terrorize his wife, surrounding her as she goes for water. We howl outside his windows half the night, and if that doesn't drive him away we take him out, leaving just a few bones so the message is clear. This is our forest. Perfect before you came. Perfect again when all your kind is dead.”” [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The forest, personified, attacks humanity for environmental destruction, using terror and violence to protect itself. **In simple terms:** Nature fights back against human greed. Key Takeaway Respect and protect the environment. Themes environment justice revenge Mood urgent somber Type environmental political When to use this quote - activism - education - policy making Key Concepts ecocriticism anthropocentrism survival Questions to Reflect On - How can we heal the forest peacefully? - What alternatives exist to violent retaliation? A Different Perspective Violence may not be the best solution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) [Woodsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woodsman/) ## Related quotes > [A garden is a symbol of man's arrogance, perverting nature to human ends ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-smit/a-garden-is-a-symbol-of-man-s-arrogance-perverting-nature-to-human/) Tim Smit > [I'm a man of arrogance,but my arrogance are not born with FALSE pride!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahlam-numero/i-m-a-man-of-arrogance-but-my-arrogance-are-not-born-with-false-pride/) Ahlam Numero > [Riches are apt to betray a man into arrogance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/riches-are-apt-to-betray-a-man-into-arrogance/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fitzgerald-kennedy/when-power-leads-man-toward-arrogance-poetry-reminds-him-of-his/) [John Fitzgerald Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fitzgerald-kennedy/) > [Man in his arrogance thinks himself a great work, worthy the interposition of a great deity. More humble and I believe true to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/man-in-his-arrogance-thinks-himself-a-great-work-worthy-the/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Let's be honest, the man's arrogance overshadows his talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-s-be-honest-the-man-s-arrogance-overshadows-his-talent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Patience is the greatest of virtues in a woodsman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenimore-cooper/patience-is-the-greatest-of-virtues-in-a-woodsman/) [James Fenimore Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenimore-cooper/) > [“I am not a gentle shepherd like the ones in fairy tales, but a good woodsman who shares with you earth, wind, and moutain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/i-am-not-a-gentle-shepherd-like-the-ones-in-fairy-tales-but-a-good/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [“Can I ever come back here' he asked, and the Woodsman said something very strange in reply. 'Most people come back here,' he said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-connolly/can-i-ever-come-back-here-he-asked-and-the-woodsman-said-something/) [John Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-connolly/) > [“A camper should know for himself how to outfit, how to select and make a camp, how to wield an axe and make proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-kephart/a-camper-should-know-for-himself-how-to-outfit-how-to-select-and-make/) [Horace Kephart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-kephart/) > [You got to know your limits. Once is enough, but you got to learn. A little caution never hurt anyone. A good woodsman has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/you-got-to-know-your-limits-once-is-enough-but-you-got-to-learn-a/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I can be a woodsman if need be. I grew up very close to some forest, and I spent a lot of my formative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-turner/i-can-be-a-woodsman-if-need-be-i-grew-up-very-close-to-some-forest/) [Alex Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-turner/) > [“The Forest is dark, dearie, The Forest is dark; The moment you think that you’re lost in the woods, then you are. Do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-r-frie/the-forest-is-dark-dearie-the-forest-is-dark-the-moment-you-think/) [Emory R. Frie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emory-r-frie/) > [“I shall take the heart,” returned the Tin Woodsman; “for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/i-shall-take-the-heart-returned-the-tin-woodsman-for-brains-do-not/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [I thought you were her knight, but you have become only her woodsman--taking little girls into the forest to cut out their hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-thought-you-were-her-knight-but-you-have-become-only-her-woodsman/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More by Ron Koertge > [“Statements make sense for somebody who needs advice. I’m not giving advice. I don’t instruct. At my best, I delight. That’s my job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/statements-make-sense-for-somebody-who-needs-advice-i-m-not-giving/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“You're a miracle, Walker. Your fingers are. Your toes are. Your crushing sadness and guilt are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/you-re-a-miracle-walker-your-fingers-are-your-toes-are-your-crushing/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“Did you know if you look deep, deep, deep into a cat's eyes, there's an alter with three candles ?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/did-you-know-if-you-look-deep-deep-deep-into-a-cat-s-eyes-there-s-an/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“That's why babies cry so much. All of a sudden having a body is a lot to deal with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/that-s-why-babies-cry-so-much-all-of-a-sudden-having-a-body-is-a-lot/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“The air of a deposed prince. falsehood as restorative-if they wouldnt do that if they wouldnt do all that they do. the body as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/the-air-of-a-deposed-prince-falsehood-as-restorative-if-they-wouldnt/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“She knows her life is on the line but, believe it or not, she's never been so excited! Her husband's a serial killer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/she-knows-her-life-is-on-the-line-but-believe-it-or-not-she-s-never/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“Since I don't know where I'm going, I guess I'm in no real hurry to get there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/since-i-don-t-know-where-i-m-going-i-guess-i-m-in-no-real-hurry-to/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“Dark night of the soul,” said Jesus, “Happens to everybody sooner or later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/dark-night-of-the-soul-said-jesus-happens-to-everybody-sooner-or-later/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“All over town kids lay awake & wondered: Am I smart enough, pretty enough, strong enough, tall enough? If our fears were smoke, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/all-over-town-kids-lay-awake-wondered-am-i-smart-enough-pretty-enough/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“She's selling CDs on the corner, fifty cents to any stoner, any homeboy with a boner. Sleet and worse - the weather's awful. Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/she-s-selling-cds-on-the-corner-fifty-cents-to-any-stoner-any-homeboy/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“Okay, they were ogre children with little gray teeth, but they were kids! They didn't do anything, not really. Sure, when they played, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/okay-they-were-ogre-children-with-little-gray-teeth-but-they-were/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“No wonder I want to be Robert Mitchum: big, strong, super-cool, with those Freon eyes of his. That's who I was pretending to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/no-wonder-i-want-to-be-robert-mitchum-big-strong-super-cool-with/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“You've got scars, you're beat up, you're a different person, but you're through it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/you-ve-got-scars-you-re-beat-up-you-re-a-different-person-but-you-re/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“With his iPod all the way up, nothing in this world can touch him. Just over his pulse is a fresh tattoo- a dotted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/with-his-ipod-all-the-way-up-nothing-in-this-world-can-touch-him-just/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) > [“I'm not a big fan of inspiration. I'm too old to sit and wait for the muse to give me a little kiss... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-koertge/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-inspiration-i-m-too-old-to-sit-and-wait-for-the/) [Ron Koertge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) [Explore all 23 Ron Koertge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-koertge/) ## More Arrogance quotes > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) [Browse all 1,418 Arrogance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our enemy is man with his arrogance and greed. The woodsman in particular. Destroyer of trees. Clearer of land. Owner of fire. While he chops and burns and builds, we terrorize his wife, surrounding her as she goes for water. We howl outside his windows half the night, and if that doesn't drive him away we take him out, leaving just a few bones so the message is clear. This is our forest. Perfect before you came. 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