The Everglades is a test. If we pass it, we may get to keep the planet.
To be a friend of the Everglades is not necessarily to spend time wandering around out there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding the Everglades goes beyond physical presence; it's about a deep connection with the environment.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas emphasizes that being a true friend to the Everglades isn't simply about visiting or exploring the area; it involves a profound appreciation and commitment to preserving and respecting this unique ecosystem. The quote suggests that one can foster a bond with nature that transcends mere visitation, highlighting the importance of stewardship and understanding in forming connections with our natural world.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about environmental conservation, someone might say this quote to highlight the importance of being an advocate for nature.
More from Marjory Stoneman Douglas
All quotes βLife should be lived so vividly and so intensely that thoughts of another life, or of a longer life, are not necessary.
Whoever wants me to talk, I'll come over and tell them about the necessity of preserving the Everglades.
The wealth of south Florida, but even more important, the meaning and significance of south Florida lies in the black muck of the Everglades and the inevitable development of this country to be the great tropic agricultural center of the world.
The hardest thing is to tell the truth about oneself. One doesn't like to remember unpleasant details, but forgetting them makes one's life seem disorganized.
Conservation is now a dead word.
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As long as one has a garden, one has a future. As long as one has a future, one is alive.
Tell me of what plant-birthday a man takes notice, and I shall tell you a good deal about his vocation, his hobbies, his hay fever, and the general level of his ecological education.