--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote…" description: "\"John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote in his journal that you should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any oth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/tom-bodett-20459_alaska_john-muir-the-famous-naturalist-wrote-in_3203299.png" --- # John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote in his journal… ![“John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote in his journal that you should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live. And there's a lot of truth to that.” quote by Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/tom-bodett-20459_alaska_john-muir-the-famous-naturalist-wrote-in_3203299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/tom-bodett-20459_alaska_john-muir-the-famous-naturalist-wrote-in_3203299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/tom-bodett-20459_alaska_john-muir-the-famous-naturalist-wrote-in_3203299.png) > “John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote in his journal that you should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live. And there's a lot of truth to that.” [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Young men often idealize distant places, but true contentment comes from appreciating one's current surroundings. **In simple terms:** Travel idealism can blind appreciation of home. Key Takeaway Seek fulfillment where you are. Themes contentment travel young adulthood Mood reflective contemplative Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relocation choices - personal growth - mindfulness Key Concepts place attachment idealism satisfaction Questions to Reflect On - Do you idealize any place? - How can you find satisfaction locally? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize a single place, ignoring benefits of diverse experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alaska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alaska/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Famous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous/) [Famous Naturalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous-naturalist-5955602/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-muir/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muir/) [Muir Famous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muir-famous-5955603/) [Naturalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalist/) [Naturalist Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalist-wrote-5955601/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [ “John Muir, Earth — planet, Universe \[ Muir's home address, as inscribed on the inside front cover of his first field journal \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/john-muir-earth-planet-universe-muir-s-home-address-as-inscribed-on/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“His treatment of mechanical problems wasn't divorced from the worldly situations in which they arise, and as a result \[John Muir's service manual on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/his-treatment-of-mechanical-problems-wasn-t-divorced-from-the-worldly/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [John Muir, Earth-planet, Universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/john-muir-earth-planet-universe/) [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.” —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/) > [“While I would not claim that Muir’s “God” (or his “Mother Nature”) is neatly synonymous with China’s “Tao,” it seems clear that what Muir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-barnett/while-i-would-not-claim-that-muir-s-god-or-his-mother-nature-is/) [Raymond Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-barnett/) > [“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep," Jess intoned as they took the path down from the parking lot. She had imagined finding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/the-woods-are-lovely-dark-and-deep-jess-intoned-as-they-took-the-path/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [I've always liked Muir without knowing quite why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-dunn/i-ve-always-liked-muir-without-knowing-quite-why/) [Douglas Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-dunn/) > [He is likely to remain the one historian of the Sierra; he imported into his view the imagination of the poet and the reverence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-underwood-johnson/he-is-likely-to-remain-the-one-historian-of-the-sierra-he-imported/) [Robert Underwood Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-underwood-johnson/) > [“Muir wrote of time not in the wilderness: “I am degenerating into a machine for making money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-williams/muir-wrote-of-time-not-in-the-wilderness-i-am-degenerating-into-a/) [Florence Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-williams/) > [“When I first enjoyed this superb view, one glowing April day," Jess read aloud, "from the summit of the Pacheco Pass, the Central Valley,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/when-i-first-enjoyed-this-superb-view-one-glowing-april-day-jess-read/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [I began working with the John Muir Institute and then started helping found Friends of the Earth organizations here and there in other countries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/i-began-working-with-the-john-muir-institute-and-then-started-helping/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [I would say Gary Snyder, who is from my part of the world as a poet and environmental thinker, will be read just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/i-would-say-gary-snyder-who-is-from-my-part-of-the-world-as-a-poet/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [“Now, wilderness can be seen as a useful fiction, a fiction constructed by John Muir and his heirs and deployed to keep places from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/now-wilderness-can-be-seen-as-a-useful-fiction-a-fiction-constructed/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/a-few-minutes-ago-every-tree-was-excited-bowing-to-the-roaring-storm-2/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [ In that year \[1865\] John Muir offered to buy from his brother ... a sanctuary for the wildflowers that had gladdened his youth. His… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/in-that-year-1865-john-muir-offered-to-buy-from-his-brother-a/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) ## More by Tom Bodett > [Kids in Alaska don't know they're growing up on the Last Frontier. It's just what they see on the license plates, and it's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/kids-in-alaska-don-t-know-they-re-growing-up-on-the-last-frontier-it/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [Did you ever notice that nobody you see on television looks like anyone you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/did-you-ever-notice-that-nobody-you-see-on-television-looks-like/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [It's not like Alaska isn't wilderness - it mostly is. But most Alaskans don't live in the wild. They live on the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/it-s-not-like-alaska-isn-t-wilderness-it-mostly-is-but-most-alaskans/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [What you hear is southern Michigan, not a drawl, but a halting kind of speech where you leave spaces when there shouldn't be any.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/what-you-hear-is-southern-michigan-not-a-drawl-but-a-halting-kind-of/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [My work is still very much light-hearted, positive outlook, laugh at yourself. But it isn't going to be the laugh-a-minute kind of thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/my-work-is-still-very-much-light-hearted-positive-outlook-laugh-at/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [Americans are generally very self-sufficient and I think generally averse to pretension, just as I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/americans-are-generally-very-self-sufficient-and-i-think-generally/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [I'm real. I believe what I'm saying. If Motel 6 wasn't the type of operation they say it is - and I stay at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/i-m-real-i-believe-what-i-m-saying-if-motel-6-wasn-t-the-type-of/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [Like most Alaska immigrants, my roots continue to petition for equal time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/like-most-alaska-immigrants-my-roots-continue-to-petition-for-equal/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [Could the garment and appliance industries be in cahoots together, creating an artificial sock demand to keep us buying?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/could-the-garment-and-appliance-industries-be-in-cahoots-together/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/they-say-a-person-needs-just-three-things-to-be-truly-happy-in-this/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [Mine is not a story to tell struggling writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/mine-is-not-a-story-to-tell-struggling-writers/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [The difference between an optimist and a pessimist? An optimist laughs to forget, but a pessimist forgets to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/the-difference-between-an-optimist-and-a-pessimist-an-optimist-laughs/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [I know how to make adults laugh pretty well. I don't know if kids think I'm that funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/i-know-how-to-make-adults-laugh-pretty-well-i-don-t-know-if-kids/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [Professor Al Drake encouraged me to just write the way I talk. I decided if that's what I needed to do, I didn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/professor-al-drake-encouraged-me-to-just-write-the-way-i-talk-i/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [I went to Alaska as a young man just looking for adventure. And like so many of us in the '70s, we found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/i-went-to-alaska-as-a-young-man-just-looking-for-adventure-and-like/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) [Explore all 31 Tom Bodett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) ## More Alaska quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Grief is like an ocean. It comes in waves - some waves are bigger than others and you cannot prepare for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-lane/grief-is-like-an-ocean-it-comes-in-waves-some-waves-are-bigger-than/) [Summer Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-lane/) > [There's no doubt 'normal' is changing - spring actually came a month early in Alaska, for example, and we had to stop filming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-rice/there-s-no-doubt-normal-is-changing-spring-actually-came-a-month/) [Travis Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-rice/) > [Kids in Alaska don't know they're growing up on the Last Frontier. It's just what they see on the license plates, and it's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bodett/kids-in-alaska-don-t-know-they-re-growing-up-on-the-last-frontier-it/) [Tom Bodett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bodett/) > [What the hell is instant? Nothing is instant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/what-the-hell-is-instant-nothing-is-instant/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/they-re-our-next-door-neighbors-and-you-can-actually-see-russia-from/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [If the world were an orange with 18 segments meeting at the top (the North Pole), roughly 8 of them would be in Russia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-shoumatoff/if-the-world-were-an-orange-with-18-segments-meeting-at-the-top-the/) [Alex Shoumatoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-shoumatoff/) > [And I just got the ghost, and I'm calling it Casper but that is so cold, it belong in Alaska.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/and-i-just-got-the-ghost-and-i-m-calling-it-casper-but-that-is-so/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [Like any traveler, I'm always looking for those experiences that are almost unique to any place, and watching films around Alaska of the skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/like-any-traveler-i-m-always-looking-for-those-experiences-that-are/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/a-changing-environment-will-affect-alaska-more-than-any-other-state/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Mitt Romney understands the importance of Alaska as a leader in our country's energy production and I look forward to working with him on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/mitt-romney-understands-the-importance-of-alaska-as-a-leader-in-our/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [Why would even I say we can't stop drilling in the Gulf? Because we have no alternatives. Whether or not we drill in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/why-would-even-i-say-we-can-t-stop-drilling-in-the-gulf-because-we/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [On the lip of the Grand Canyon. I've always wanted to do that. My very first TV special out of the Olympics was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-boitano/on-the-lip-of-the-grand-canyon-i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-that-my-very/) [Brian Boitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-boitano/) > [“The canopy of trees overhead is so thick that only bits and pieces of blue sky can be seen overhead. Narrow rays of sunshine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-g-foster/the-canopy-of-trees-overhead-is-so-thick-that-only-bits-and-pieces-of/) [Vanessa G. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-g-foster/) > [Let's make a deal: You figure out what the labyrinth is and how to get out of it, and i'll get you laid. -Alaska…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/let-s-make-a-deal-you-figure-out-what-the-labyrinth-is-and-how-to-get/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Browse all 320 Alaska quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alaska/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote in his journal that you should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live. 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