Agriculture Quote by Wendell Berry
““Agriculture must mediate between nature and the human community, with ties and obligations in both directions. To farm well requires an elaborate courtesy toward all creatures, animate and inanimate. It is sympathy that most appropriately enlarges the context of human work. Contexts become wrong by being too small - too small, that is, to contain the scientist or the farmer or the farm family or the local ecosystem or the local community - and this is crucial.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Unsettling of America, Wendell Berry, 1977
Human work should respect both nature and community, recognizing interdependence and extending empathy to all beings.
In simple terms: Respect nature and community in work.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate empathy for all life.
Themes
environment
community
ethics
agriculture
interdependence
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
philosophical
ethical
environmental
When to use this quote
- farming practices
- policy making
- education curricula
- community planning
- research design
Key Concepts
sustainability
ecology
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we broaden our perspective beyond immediate interests?
- What responsibilities do we have toward nonhuman life?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on narrow goals can ignore broader ecological and social impacts.
