Famous quotes

Quotes by famous people, credited to who said them. Your own quotes must not match any of these. More are added all the time. 1,158,808 quotes Who coined it · How we decide

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Nature

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“Man alone at the very moment of his birth, cast naked upon the naked earth, does she [Nature] abandon to cries and lamentations.”
Pliny the Elder (20–79) said by 79 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I know that I am mortal by nature and ephemeral, but when I trace at my pleasure the windings to and fro of the heavenly bodies, I no longer touch earth with my feet. I stand in the presence of Zeus himself and take my fill of ambrosia.”
Ptolemy (100–170) said by 170 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: In some of the manuscripts, the books begins with this epigram (Owen Gingerich, The Eye of Heaven: Ptolemy, Copernicus, Kepler, American Institute of Physics, 1993, p. 55).
“The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is important to the quality of life of humans. Our challenge for the future is that we realize we are very much a part of the earth's ecosystem, and we must learn to respect and live according to the basic biological laws of nature.”
Jim Fowler (1930–2019) said by 2019 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We must look into unknown dimensions, into Nature, into that incalculable and imponderable life, whose carrier and mediator, the blood of the Earth that accompanies us steadfastly from the cradle to the grave, is water.”
Viktor Schauberger (1885–1958) said by 1958 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Is it therefore so illogical to recognise the Will of Nature in the rapid increase in the number of human beings? Surely several hundred million more people are needed, who with their energy and strength can help restore this ravished lump of excrement, the Earth, to its former glory!”
Viktor Schauberger (1885–1958) said by 1958 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Any two opposite colours of the rainbow (eg yellow and blue) , form a third between them, thus imparting to each other their peculiar qualities . The sight of what they were originally is quite lost, and instead, a most pleasing green is found, which colour, nature has chosen for the vestment of the earth, and with the beauty of which the eye never tires.”
William Hogarth (1697–1764) said by 1764 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And let the fear and dread of you be upon all of the animals of the earth.” Clearly, fear and dread were prescribed for the animals, but evidently it was forbidden among humans. By nature a human is superior to a brute animal, but not other humans.”
Pope Gregory I (540–604) said by 604 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Although the patriarchal ego prides itself on being reasonable, the twentieth century has been anything but the Age of Reason. In our collective neurosis, we have raped the earth, disrupted the delicate balance of nature, and created phallic missiles of mass destruction.”
Marion Woodman (1928–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is not a certain conformity of manners that the painting of Van Gogh attacks, but rather the conformity of institutions themselves. And even external nature, with her climates, her tides, and her equinoctial storms, cannot, after Van Gogh’s stay upon earth, maintain the same gravitation.”
Antonin Artaud (1896–1948) said by 1948 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Souls are punished when they have gone forth from the body, some wandering among us, some going to hot or cold places of the earth, some harassed by spirits. Under all circumstances they suffer with the irrational part of their nature, with which they also sinned. For its sake there subsists that shadowy body which is seen about graves, especially the graves of evil livers.”
Sallustius (400–400) said by 400 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For the traditionalists the Enlightenment boiled down to a fatal misunderstanding. All philosophes had been wrong about the nature and also, if one could put it that way, about the sex of prejudice. They had mistaken an earth mother who sustained and inspired her children for a bogeyman of a father. Then, seeking to overthrow this father, they had in reality done away with the mother-figure.”
Alain Finkielkraut (born 1949) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“YOU ARE DIVINE. This is the truth for you, but it remains meaningless on earth until you know it. “Knowing” is the state of realized experience, and this occurs as your divine nature is given expression in thought, word and deed.”
Martin Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter (1909–1988) first seen 1968 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As of a Trumpet, 1968, p. 13
“So that while we speak of the fallen man as the natural man, as against the supernatural man, who is a redeemed man in a very real sense we should say that sin is unnatural. With man, who was created into perfect knowledge, and his destiny is hell or salvation. Moreover man was created to exercise dominion and to rule the earth. This is man’s calling and it is basic to man’s nature.”
Rousas John Rushdoony (1916–2001) said by 2001 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In this embrace, in the essential unity of God, are all inner spirits one with God in loving transport, and they are the selfsame one that the essence itself is in itself. And in this sublime unity of the divine nature, the heavenly Father is the origin and the beginning of every work that is done in heaven and on earth”
John Ruysbroeck (1293–1381) said by 1381 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Earth's Creation is the glory of God, as seen from the works of Nature by Man alone.”
Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) said by 1778 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am a being of Heaven and Earth, of thunder and lightning, of rain and wind, of the galaxies, of the suns and the stars and the void through which they travel. The essence of nature, eternal, divine that all men seek to know to hear, known as the great illusion time, and the all-prevailing atmosphere. And now you know my background.”
Eden ahbez (1908–1995) first seen 1992 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Tape recording declaring how he recited one of his poems in response to a question "What is your background?" (1992)
“Empedocles tried to address the problem of change by saying that there is not one fundamental arche but four—earth, water, air, and fire—which generate all the material substances in nature by mixing together in various ways under the influence of forces he called Love and Strife.”
John Freely (1926–2017) said by 2017 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It is this fragile nature of the earth's atmosphere that I want everybody to appreciate. It's what I call your place in space.”
Bill Nye (born 1955) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Three revolutions mark the history of life on earth. The first was the origin of life itself... The second... was the origin of multicellular organisms... The origin of human consciousness... was the third... Life became aware of itself, and began to transform the world of nature to its own ends.”
Richard Leakey (1944–2022) said by 2022 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If I were an evil alien wishing to alter the nature of life on earth, I would change the temperature of the ocean, I would change the chemistry. That is exactly what we are doing: excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere becomes excess carbon dioxide in the ocean that becomes carbonic acid. The ocean is becoming more acidic. That changes everything.”
Sylvia Earle (born 1935) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It seems to be easier for us today to imagine the thoroughgoing deterioration of the earth and of nature than the breakdown of late capitalism; perhaps that is due to some weakness in our imaginations.”
Fredric Jameson (1934–2024) said by 2024 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“From the standpoint of exact , of the explanation of nature from causes, the assumption of an earth-soul is... an hypothesis for the explanation of Being and of the historical development of the organic world.”
Bernhard Riemann (1826–1866) said by 1866 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“If something isn't done about the climate/carbon crisis, people... today might be living in the last generation to experience a stable atmosphere, and thus a stable form of governance, for any foreseeable future. ...[B]ecause our Constitution doesn't mention the rights of nature (or even the environment), the Earth's biosphere is getting short shrift of our legal system...”
Thom Hartmann (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I feel a spiritual sense, and that sense is a connection between generations. Some of the lyrics are about connecting intuitively with Mother Earth, sometimes with our evil nature, sometimes with our goodness. I love to connect with my ancestors. Also, I need to express these concerns that are a part of my generation.”
Lila Downs (born 1968) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For my master, whose restless, craving, vicious nature roved about day and night, seeking whom to devour, had just left me, with stinging, scorching words; words that scathed ear and brain like fire. O, how I despised him! I thought how glad I should be if some day when he walked the earth, it would open and swallow him up…”
Buchi Emecheta (1944–2017) said by 2017 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“the nature of the Jewish people on the face of this earth has been totally transformed in the past 45 years”
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (1945–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nature is the most profound multimedia event that you will ever experience. Why not turn off your television and go witness the greatest show on Earth. (p 152)”
Linda Hogan (writer) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nature has never deceived itself, but we tend to be in denial. Let's be honest, if for no other reason, then for our children; let's build self-respect by respecting the planet we harmed so seriously, and the earth, much cleaner and healthier when given to us to take care of...”
Tomislav Nikolić (born 1952) first seen 2016 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech by President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic at the Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony" (2016)
“Those nations which, like the tribes of the Chudo-Finnish, have never proved intelligent enough to become the advocates of freedom or civilisation, may, without the spirit of humanity shedding a tear on their graves, disappear from the earth, or they may, as peaceful peasants and countrymen, content themselves with the idyllic patriarchal life best suited to their loyal and slow nature.”
Axel Olof Freudenthal (1836–1911) said by 1911 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“On Earth Day, Benjamin spoke at a community event about the importance of environmental conservation. He aimed to motivate the audience to act responsibly toward nature, emphasizing that conservation efforts are essential for the sustainability of future generations.”
Benjamin Margate (born 1989) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Friendship's an empty name, made to deceive Those whose good nature tempts them to believe: There's no such thing on earth; the best that we Can hope for here is faint neutrality.”
Sir Samuel Tuke, 1st Baronet (1615–1674) said by 1674 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Mother Nature is the best therapist on earth.”
Nicole LePera first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Nicole LePera, Official social media (15th September 2024).
“Science is for the laboratory. Other men, who stand alone and face the elemental forces of nature, know that science as a shining, world-conquering hero, is a myth. Science lives in concrete structures full of bright factory toys, insulated from the earth's great forces. The priesthood of this new cult are seldom called upon to stand and face the onslaught.”
Hammond Innes (1913–1998) first seen 1962 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Atlantic Fury (1962) ch. 2
“I wanted to convey that even in the most broken, abandoned places, both physically and emotionally, love and hope can still take root. Nature plays a big role in this story; as humanity fades, the Earth begins to heal.”
Reine Swart (born 1950) first seen 2025 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Reine Swart on Writing ‘Bos’ (‘The Forest’) reviewmyscript.com (retrieved 7 November 2025)
“To grow the love of nature globally amongst the local and international art communities and to call attention to our need to preserve our earth,”
Marlene Tseng Yu (born 1937) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“My passion for the environment started in my childhood garden. There’s something profoundly grounding about working with the earth, seeing life bloom from the soil. It’s a reminder of our connection to nature and our responsibility to protect it.”
Samantha Keene Anderson first seen 2024 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: , 22 August 2024.
“According to the books I've read on the subject, Satanism is a belief system where the noblest of men are God, nature is the holiest of holy spirits, common sense would be the one commandment, and Heaven and Hell exist right here on Earth.”
Nick Bougas (born 1955) first seen 1993 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speak of the Devil, 1993, 3 minutes in
“Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost.”
John Milton (1608–1674) said by 1674 at the latest bartlett, Public domain source
“When I was born I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.”
The Bible (active around 812) bartlett, Public domain source
“Love is an emotion common to all living beings. It is the path women can take to reach men, men to women, both to Nature, and Nature to the universe. And the love that overflows all boundaries is vishwa matrutvam—universal motherhood.”
Mata Amritanandamayi (born 1953) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Il est faux que l’égalité soit une loi de la nature. La nature n’a rien fait d’égal; la loi souveraine est la subordination et la dépendance.”
Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–1747) said by 1747 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Tr. E. Lee (1903) p. 180
“We depend on nature not only for our physical survival. We also need nature to show us the way home, the way out of the prison of our own minds. We got lost in doing, thinking, remembering, anticipating–lost in a maze of complexity and a world of problems.”
Eckhart Tolle (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The great nature philosophers, then, after meticulous study of nature determined that the first, the primal, the absolute and highest law is preservation of one's own kind.”
David Lane (white nationalist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“For my part, my "leader" is Nature's God, whom we as Wotansvolk symbolize as the Aryan Allfather. Wotan, through his laws of nature, declared that the preservation of one's own kind is the highest law. Wotan commands the 14 Words and they will be my cause as long as I live and have control of my mind—until Victory is ours.”
David Lane (white nationalist) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Nature’s nature was change. It was not a museum.”
Gregory Benford (born 1941) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Didn’t listen, did he? They never do. That’s the nature of a Goro. Just as not wanting to know things is the nature of humans.”
Peter S. Beagle (born 1939) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The nature of creative thinking runs counter to the nature of dealing w/its output. Ability & system to do both is freedom. GTD.”
David Allen (born 1945) first seen 2010 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: 2 July 2010
“It is so by nature that the plant will develop with regularity, that the animal will move purposefully, and that human beings will think. Why should I take exception to recognizing also the last as the expression of an original force of nature, as I do the first and the second?”
Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814) said by 1814 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: P. Preuss, trans. (1987), p. 11
“My father joy'd to show the pleasant road, That leads thro' nature, up to nature's God. While others teach their sons the love of gold, He to my opening judgment would unfold The classic page.—My mother would inspire And fan the sallies of the muse's fire: She taught me to be great, was to be good; That goodness far excell'd the noblest blood.”
William Julius Mickle (1734–1788) first seen 1734 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Early and unfinished epsile to a friend", quoted in Sister M. Eustace's William Julius Mickle (1734–1788): A Critical Study (1937), p. 2
“Is this wide world not large enough to fill thee, Nor Nature, nor that deep man's Nature, Art? Are they too thin, too weak and poor to still thee, Thou little heart?”
Mary Elizabeth Coleridge (1861–1907) said by 1907 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Self-Question, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919).