Agriculture Quote by W. S. Merwin
“It's an attitude of superiority. We are superior to the rest of life. The Book of Genesis says: 'Increase and multiply and have dominion over the birds of the air and the animals and so forth.' You run it; it's yours; do what you like with it. I don't know how old that text is, but it represents an attitude that probably really got going with the beginning of agriculture. Before that, the hunter-gatherers were gentler people than the agriculture.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Genesis and Agriculture”, 1978
Human superiority claims stem from ancient texts, shaping domination over nature and altering societal behavior.
In simple terms: Domination is cultural.
Key Takeaway
Reevaluate our relationship with nature.
Themes
domination
culture
environment
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- environmental policy
- education
- community planning
Key Concepts
anthropology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this view affect modern agriculture?
- Can we develop a more reciprocal ethic?
A Different Perspective
Historical narratives are contested and varied.
