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We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to go there. We need the possibility of escape as surely as we need hope.
Edward Abbey
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Wilderness provides a necessary escape and hope, even if we never visit it.

This quote by Edward Abbey emphasizes the intrinsic value of wilderness and untouched nature in our lives. It suggests that the existence of wild spaces serves a fundamental human need for refuge and hope, symbolizing possibilities that extend beyond our immediate experiences. Even if we do not physically immerse ourselves in nature, the awareness of its presence can provide comfort and inspiration in our daily lives.

Themes

WildernessHopeEscapeNatureRefuge

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could inspire a group of hikers about the importance of preserving natural spaces.

More from Edward Abbey

Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
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I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess - and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society.
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If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
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The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
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I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
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Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
Edward AbbeyRead

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