Alaska Quote by William O. Douglas
![“The Arctic has a call that is compelling. The distant mountains [of the Brooks Range in Alaska] make one want to go on and on over the next ridge and over the one beyond. The call is that of a wilderness known only to a few...This last American wilderness must remain sacrosanct.” quote by William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60f/william-o-douglas-2931_alaska_the-arctic-has-a-call-that-is-compelling_2192460.jpg)
“The Arctic has a call that is compelling. The distant mountains [of the Brooks Range in Alaska] make one want to go on and on over the next ridge and over the one beyond. The call is that of a wilderness known only to a few...This last American wilderness must remain sacrosanct.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Environmental Address, 1972
The Arctic’s allure draws explorers onward, urging them to traverse endless ridges, preserving its untouched wilderness.
In simple terms: The Arctic calls explorers to keep its wilderness pristine.
Key Takeaway
Protect wilderness by limiting intrusion.
Themes
nature
exploration
preservation
Mood
concerned
inspirational
Type
environmental
motivational
When to use this quote
- policy making
- outdoor adventure
- conservation planning
Key Concepts
environmental ethics
human curiosity
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should be placed on exploration?
- How can we balance curiosity with conservation?
A Different Perspective
Human desire for discovery can threaten the very wilderness it admires.
![“There's an elegiac quality in watching [American wilderness] go, because it's our own myth, the American frontier, that's deteriorating before our eyes. I feel a deep sorrow that my kids will never get to see what I've seen, and their kids will see nothing; there's a deep sadness whenever I look…” quote by Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/86b/peter-matthiessen-5795_deep-sadness_there-s-an-elegiac-quality-in-watching-a_1276424.jpg)
