--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we must do is encourage a sea change…" description: "\"“What we must do is encourage a sea change in attitude, one that acknowledges that we are a part of the living world, not apart from it.”\" — Sylvia Earle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg" --- # What we must do is encourage a sea change in attitude, one… ![“What we must do is encourage a sea change in attitude, one that acknowledges that we are a part of the living world, not apart from it.” quote by Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg) > ““What we must do is encourage a sea change in attitude, one that acknowledges that we are a part of the living world, not apart from it.”” [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates shifting human mindset to see ourselves as integral to nature, fostering environmental stewardship. **In simple terms:** See ourselves as part of nature. Key Takeaway Adopt an ecological identity. Themes environment mindset stewardship interconnectedness Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational call‑to‑action When to use this quote - policy making - education - community projects - personal lifestyle changes Key Concepts Ecology systems thinking anthropocene Questions to Reflect On - How can you embody ecological identity daily? - What policies reflect this mindset? A Different Perspective Changing attitudes alone may not overcome entrenched economic interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledges Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledges-living-5337185/) [Attitude Acknowledges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude-acknowledges-5337184/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-attitude/) [Encourage Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage-sea-5337183/) [Sea change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea-change/) ## Related quotes > [But having said that, there's also a sea change in attitude towards media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-having-said-that-there-s-also-a-sea-change-in-attitude-towards/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our greatest fear is when someone change their attitude and they don't care you anymore..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/our-greatest-fear-is-when-someone-change-their-attitude-and-they-don/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [I don't go by or change my attitude based on what people say. At the end of the day, they, too, are judging me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-patel/i-don-t-go-by-or-change-my-attitude-based-on-what-people-say-at-the/) [Karan Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-patel/) > [One change of attitude would change everything. If everyone realized that it could be a beautiful world and said, 'let's not do these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/one-change-of-attitude-would-change-everything-if-everyone-realized/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [The storm came. Lives were washed away. Ancient pains resurfaced. Now it is time for a sea of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-storm-came-lives-were-washed-away-ancient-pains-resurfaced-now-it/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [“Mankind is nothing more than a parasitic tick gorging himself on temporary plenty while the seas are low and the climate is clement. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fortey/mankind-is-nothing-more-than-a-parasitic-tick-gorging-himself-on/) [Richard Fortey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fortey/) > [I wasn't a friendly child. I was reserved and mostly kept to myself. My family tells me they've noticed a sea change in me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shraddha-kapoor/i-wasn-t-a-friendly-child-i-was-reserved-and-mostly-kept-to-myself-my/) [Shraddha Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shraddha-kapoor/) > [There is a giant gulf between doing something and doing nothing. And someone who makes a lolcat and uploads it - even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/there-is-a-giant-gulf-between-doing-something-and-doing-nothing-and/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [“It's as if I'm afloat in a sea of change. Each piece of wreckage to which I cling has limited buoyancy and soon sinks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-davis/it-s-as-if-i-m-afloat-in-a-sea-of-change-each-piece-of-wreckage-to/) [Ken Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-davis/) > [People are aware that they cannot continue in the same old way but are immobilized because they cannot imagine an alternative. We need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/people-are-aware-that-they-cannot-continue-in-the-same-old-way-but/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [We were able to conclude a Paris climate agreement, which will lead the way for the rest of the world, which is groundbreaking. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/we-were-able-to-conclude-a-paris-climate-agreement-which-will-lead/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [“This is not a small matter. According to a recent poll conducted by the Freedom Forum, a liberal foundation in Tennessee, 89 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/this-is-not-a-small-matter-according-to-a-recent-poll-conducted-by/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [Hope for a great sea-change timid to rebuke and too petty to forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/hope-for-a-great-sea-change-timid-to-rebuke-and-too-petty-to-forgive/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [Do not dwell on something lest our original intention undergoesa sea change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/do-not-dwell-on-something-lest-our-original-intention-undergoesa-sea/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [There're been sort of a sea change in my work in general, in that the more personal, the universal it's become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/there-re-been-sort-of-a-sea-change-in-my-work-in-general-in-that-the/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) ## More by Sylvia Earle > [We still have 10 percent of the sharks. We still have half of the coral reefs. However, if we wait another 50 years, opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-still-have-10-percent-of-the-sharks-we-still-have-half-of-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Health to the ocean means health for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/health-to-the-ocean-means-health-for-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Evolution is not something to be feared. It's to be celebrated, embraced, and understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/evolution-is-not-something-to-be-feared-it-s-to-be-celebrated/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [We are depleting this immense diversity and abundance of life, and it matters tremendously for the future of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-are-depleting-this-immense-diversity-and-abundance-of-life-and-it/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [My mother was known as the 'bird lady' of the neighborhood. Anything injured, or any unusual creature somebody found, they would always come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/my-mother-was-known-as-the-bird-lady-of-the-neighborhood-anything/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [There is this sweet spot in time when we have an opportunity to stop killing sharks and tunas and swordfish and other wildlife in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/there-is-this-sweet-spot-in-time-when-we-have-an-opportunity-to-stop/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've always said, 'Underwater or on top, men and women are compatible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-always-said-underwater-or-on-top-men-and-women-are-compatible/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [With respect to the ocean being the heart of our blue planet: We are often asked, 'How much protection is enough?' We can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/with-respect-to-the-ocean-being-the-heart-of-our-blue-planet-we-are/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [If the sea is sick, we'll feel it. If it dies, we die. Our future and the state of the oceans are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/if-the-sea-is-sick-we-ll-feel-it-if-it-dies-we-die-our-future-and-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The ocean seemed like a sea of Eden. But now we are facing paradise lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-ocean-seemed-like-a-sea-of-eden-but-now-we-are-facing-paradise/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When you think about the real cost of so-called cheap energy that has driven our prosperity to unprecedented levels, for some of us, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-you-think-about-the-real-cost-of-so-called-cheap-energy-that-has/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When I arrived on the planet, there were only two billion. Wildlife was more abundant, we were less so; now the situation is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-i-arrived-on-the-planet-there-were-only-two-billion-wildlife-was/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've had the joy of spending thousands of hours under the sea. I wish I could take people along to see what I see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-had-the-joy-of-spending-thousands-of-hours-under-the-sea-i-wish/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The observations that have developed over the years have given us perspective about where we fit in. We are newcomers, really recent arrivals on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-observations-that-have-developed-over-the-years-have-given-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) [Explore all 211 Sylvia Earle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What we must do is encourage a sea change in attitude, one that acknowledges that we are a part of the living world, not apart from it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Earle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-change-in-attitude-one-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-change-in-attitude-one-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cb/sylvia-earle-1756_change_what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-chang_672588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we must do is encourage a sea change in attitude, one that acknowledges that we are a part of the…” — Sylvia Earle", "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": "Sylvia Earle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What we must do is encourage...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-change-in-attitude-one-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/what-we-must-do-is-encourage-a-sea-change-in-attitude-one-that/#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 } } ] } ```