5 John Muir Quotes About Nature to Ignite Your Wild Spirit
These John Muir quotes are only small snippets from his many books, but they’re some of my favorites. His writing is full of sensation and detail; it inspires me to explore, experience, and truly appreciate all of nature.
I’m sharing these John Muir quotes in hopes that they will inspire you as they have inspired me. Here you go!
“Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another.” -John Muir
“The petty discomforts that beset the awkward guest, the unskilled camper, are quickly forgotten, while all that is precious remains. Fears vanish as soon as one is fairly free in the wilderness.” -John Muir
This quote is so real. I’m certainly familiar with the discomforts associated with camping! There’s a lot of work that goes into packing, setting up camp, actually functioning in the forest, taking down camp—these thoughts can prevent us from getting out into the forest in the first place. But when you finally get your feet in the dirt, it’s so worth it.
It reminds us of that feeling. You know that feeling. That feeling when you’re standing in the wilderness, in peaceful solitude. It’s the feeling of freedom, finally; a feeling that you have to experience for yourself.
This quote is a reminder that no matter what discomforts we may face in the wilderness, the preciousness of the wild is certainly worth the pursuit. Because in that moment of natural bliss, our fears dim and it’s all worth it.
“When we emerged into the bright landscapes of the sun everything looked brighter, and we felt our faith in Nature’s beauty strengthened, and saw more clearly that beauty is universal and immortal, above, beneath, on land and sea, mountain and plain, in heat and cold, light and darkness.” -John Muir
The sun surely brightens everything. Nature’s beauty is as vast as it is conditionless.
If we ever lose faith in ourselves, this quote about nature’s beauty is a reminder—a reminder for us to have faith in nature, and extend that faith to ourselves. Nature perseveres, and we can too.
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” -John Muir
This quote feels like wonder and curiosity. Discovery is always available to us, especially if a forest is nearby. We can go into the trees and into a whole new world. We can discover our own wild nature.
“Of course this destruction was creation, progress in the march of beauty through death.” -John Muir
Glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis—Natural disasters look like destruction. But of course, destruction is also creation. The Earth will do what it will do.
We can can choose to see beauty everywhere—not only in the obvious places, but even in death and destruction.
What did you think about these John Muir quotes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
