We feel the beauty of nature because we are part of nature and because we know that however much in our separate domains we abstract from the unity of Nature, this unity remains. Although we may deal with particulars, we return finally to the whole pattern woven out of these.
Interpretation
Our appreciation of nature stems from our connection to it, recognizing our individual experiences as part of a greater whole.
This quote by Ernest Everett Just emphasizes the deep interconnectedness between humanity and nature. It suggests that while we may experience and interpret nature in our own unique ways, our understanding ultimately leads us back to the recognition of the unity of all living things. It invites reflection on the importance of this unity and the beauty that arises from it, encouraging us to appreciate both the details and the overall pattern of existence.
In practice
During a speech at an environmental conference, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of recognizing our bond with the natural world.
When we settled our country, the dark forest was considered in some ways evil and something that you needed to plow or, later, bulldoze. We now have a new understanding of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the need for bird flyways and why all species matter.
What if you have seen it before, ten thousand times over? An apple tree in full blossom is like a message, sent fresh from heaven to earth, of purity and beauty.
Ten thousand saw I at a glance, tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the Challenge of science is to find it.
The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.
We enter solitude, in which also we lose loneliness. True solitude is found in the wild places, where one is without human obligation. One’s inner voices become audible. One feels the attraction of one’s most intimate sources. In consequence, one responds more clearly to other lives. The more coherent one becomes within oneself as a creature, the more fully one enters into the communion of all creatures.
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