--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leave it as it is. The ages have been at…" description: "\"Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.\" — Theodore Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/theodore-roosevelt-218_quote_leave-it-as-it-is-the-ages-have-been-at_1833644.jpg" --- # Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and… ![“Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/theodore-roosevelt-218_quote_leave-it-as-it-is-the-ages-have-been-at_1833644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/theodore-roosevelt-218_quote_leave-it-as-it-is-the-ages-have-been-at_1833644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54e/theodore-roosevelt-218_quote_leave-it-as-it-is-the-ages-have-been-at_1833644.jpg) > “Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it.” [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human creations are imperfect; nature’s long‑term processes produce lasting value that should not be spoiled by careless alteration. **In simple terms:** Nature’s work is better left untouched. Key Takeaway Respect natural processes and avoid unnecessary meddling. Themes nature preservation humility Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - environmental policy - urban planning - heritage conservation Key Concepts entropy human impact Questions to Reflect On - When should we intervene in nature? - What are the risks of over‑preserving? A Different Perspective Human intervention can sometimes improve or protect natural works. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages/) [Ages Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages-work-2294700/) [Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave/) [Leave Ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-ages-2294699/) [Work Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-man-252305/) ## Related quotes > [Today is 'Take our Daughters to Work Day.' This is when girls ages Nine to Fifteen go to work. Or, as it's called at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/today-is-take-our-daughters-to-work-day-this-is-when-girls-ages-nine/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [We are the heirs of the ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-are-the-heirs-of-the-ages/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I work for one man. His name is Donald Trump. He has told me one thing: 'Secure the border.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kelly/i-work-for-one-man-his-name-is-donald-trump-he-has-told-me-one-thing/) [John F. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kelly/) > [Work is man's most natural form of relaxation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagobert-d-runes/work-is-man-s-most-natural-form-of-relaxation/) [Dagobert D. Runes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagobert-d-runes/) > [Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whatever-your-life-s-work-is-do-it-well-a-man-should-do-his-job-so/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“I don't like work. I had rather laze about and think of all the fine things that can be done. I don't like work—no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-don-t-like-work-i-had-rather-laze-about-and-think-of-all-the-fine/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [I have done a great deal of work, as much as a man, but did not get so much pay. I used to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-have-done-a-great-deal-of-work-as-much-as-a-man-but-did-not-get-so/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [If one man has a dollar he didn't work for, some other man worked for a dollar he didn't get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-one-man-has-a-dollar-he-didn-t-work-for-some-other-man-worked-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is no competition in work. Many a man wants glory but fails to work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-no-competition-in-work-many-a-man-wants-glory-but-fails-to/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I won’t work for any man ever again. My body is my own. It is all I own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-mozley/i-won-t-work-for-any-man-ever-again-my-body-is-my-own-it-is-all-i-own/) [Fiona Mozley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-mozley/) > [“We live to work. Man was made to move. Without work we shall grow old quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-live-to-work-man-was-made-to-move-without-work-we-shall-grow-old/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Work is not man's punishment. It is his reward and his strength and his pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/work-is-not-man-s-punishment-it-is-his-reward-and-his-strength-and/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [Faults and defects every work of man must have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/faults-and-defects-every-work-of-man-must-have/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [God's work is not man working for God; it is God's own work, though often wrought through man's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/god-s-work-is-not-man-working-for-god-it-is-god-s-own-work-though/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More by Theodore Roosevelt > [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More Ages quotes > [The body is at its best between the ages of thirty and thirty-five; the mind is at its best about the age of forty-nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-body-is-at-its-best-between-the-ages-of-thirty-and-thirty-five/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [People do stop me a lot, and what is really very rewarding is that the ages of the people who stop me vary so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-mcewan/people-do-stop-me-a-lot-and-what-is-really-very-rewarding-is-that-the/) [Geraldine McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-mcewan/) > [I have a very low tolerance for boredom and often think I would have missed out on books entirely if Id grown up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-have-a-very-low-tolerance-for-boredom-and-often-think-i-would-have/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [It is pain that ages us, not years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-prudden/it-is-pain-that-ages-us-not-years/) [Bonnie Prudden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-prudden/) > [We owe America something because they turned us into a touring band. But at least we feel confident about appearing in Britain again now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-marriott/we-owe-america-something-because-they-turned-us-into-a-touring-band/) [Steve Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-marriott/) > [It's amazing when I do a gig how many people of different ages come up to me afterwards and chat to me about songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/it-s-amazing-when-i-do-a-gig-how-many-people-of-different-ages-come/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [There were three terrible ages of childhood - zero to 10, 10 to 20, and 20 to 30.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/there-were-three-terrible-ages-of-childhood-zero-to-10-10-to-20-and/) [Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/) > [Nothing ages like laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/nothing-ages-like-laziness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Music has no limits, borders or ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia/music-has-no-limits-borders-or-ages/) [Thalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia/) > [Ripen your mind to the glorious history of the ages and revel in your mastery as today's youth shall look upon you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/ripen-your-mind-to-the-glorious-history-of-the-ages-and-revel-in-your/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I think that as I had children, I have five sons, and they got into video games and were the prime ages through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/i-think-that-as-i-had-children-i-have-five-sons-and-they-got-into/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Get off the stages, this is my show, my performance, for the ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/get-off-the-stages-this-is-my-show-my-performance-for-the-ages/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [Chemotherapy is just medieval. It's such a blunt instrument. We're going to look back on it like we do the dark ages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-topol/chemotherapy-is-just-medieval-it-s-such-a-blunt-instrument-we-re/) [Eric Topol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-topol/) > [The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-needham/the-seven-ages-of-man-spills-drills-thrills-bills-ills-pills-and-wills/) [Richard J. Needham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-needham/) > [A nation may be born in a day, but the great truths which make for the glory and uplift of the race only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/a-nation-may-be-born-in-a-day-but-the-great-truths-which-make-for-the/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 263 Ages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leave it as it is. 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