The oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it.

No one would rather hunt woodcock in October than I, but since learning of the sky dance I find myself calling one or two birds enough. I must be sure that, come April, there be no dearth of dancers in the sunset sky.

There is time not only to see who has done what, but to speculate why.

Only the mountain has lived long enough to listen objectively to the howl of the wolf.

All conservation of wildness is self-defeating, for to cherish we must see and fondle, and when enough have seen and fondled, there is no wilderness left to cherish.

Wilderness is a continuous stretch of country preserved in its natural state, open to lawful hunting and fishing, big enough to absorb a two weeks' pack trip, and kept devoid of roads, artificial trails, cottages, or other works of man.

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.