So long as we only believe in the justice of the state, of the law-made by those in power, to serve those in power-so long will we continue to be exploited by those in power.
Derrick JensenRead
So many indigenous people have said to me that the fundamental difference between Western and indigenous ways of being is that even the most open-minded westerners generally view listening to the natural world as a metaphor, as opposed to the way the world really is. Trees and rocks and rivers really do have things to say to us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote contrasts Western perspectives with indigenous understandings of nature, emphasizing the importance of truly listening to the natural world.
Derrick Jensen highlights a fundamental cultural difference between Western and indigenous views, suggesting that while Western individuals may interpret nature metaphorically, indigenous peoples regard it as a vital and communicative entity. This perspective invites a deeper connection and respect for the environment, urging society to acknowledge that nature possesses its own wisdom that can be truly heard and understood.
Themes
IndigenousNatureListeningPhilosophyCommunication
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about environmental conservation, one could cite this quote to emphasize the importance of respecting natural landscapes.
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Those in power have made it so we have to pay simply to exist on the planet. We have to pay for a place to sleep, and we have to pay for food. If we don't, people with guns come and force us to pay. That's violent.
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When dams were erected on the Columbia, salmon battered themselves against the concrete, trying to return home. I expect no less from us. We too must hurl ourselves against and through the literal and metaphorical concrete that contains and constrains us, that keeps us from talking about what is most important to us, that keeps us from living the way our bones know we can, that bars us from our home. It only takes one person to bring down a dam.
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The big dividing line is not and has never been between those who advocate more or less militant forms of resistance, or between mainstream and grassroots activists. The dividing line is between those who do something and those who do nothing.
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By deafening ourselves to the emotional consequences of violence we have become confused by its relationship to sex. We have come to believe that violence equals aggression, and we have come to base our model of sexuality on our model of violence... converting an act of aggression into an act of consensual sexuality.
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When He gives, He shows you His Kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power. And in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness.
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You'll never have a quiet world till you knock the patriotism out of the human race.
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