We are telling our kids that nature is in the past and it probably doesn't count anymore, the future is in electronics, the boogeyman is in the woods, and playing outdoors is probably illicit and possibly illegal.
Richard LouvRead
A lot of people think they need to give up nature to become adults but that's not true. However, you have to be careful how you describe and define 'nature.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that embracing nature is not a sign of immaturity, but rather an essential part of adulthood, dependent on how we understand 'nature'.
Richard Louv argues that many believe that growing up requires abandoning our connection to nature, which is a misconception. He suggests that the true essence of nature may vary based on individual interpretations, and nurturing this connection can enhance our adult lives rather than detract from them.
Themes
NatureAdulthoodConnectionGrowthInterpretation
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at an environmental summit, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of nature in personal development.
More from Richard Louv
All quotes βNow, more than ever, we need nature as a balancing agent.
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The future will belong to the nature-smart...Th e more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.
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We have such a brief opportunity to pass on to our children our love for this Earth, and to tell our stories. These are the moments when the world is made whole. In my children's memories, the adventures we've had together in nature will always exist.
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Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.
Richard LouvRead
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As I'm traveling around, I meet many small children. And when I look at a small and think how we've harmed this beautiful planet since I was that age, I feel a kind of desperation, anger, shame. I don't know what I feel; I just don't know what the emotion is.
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