Joy in the universe, and keen curiosity about it all - that has been my religion.

Nature will not be conquered, but gives herself freely to her true lover - to him who revels with her, bathes in her seas, sails her rivers, camps in her woods, and with no mercenary ends, accepts all.

The deeper our insight into the methods of nature . . . the more incredible the popular Christianity seems to us.

Man is, and always has been, a maker of gods. It has been the most serious and significant occupation of his sojourn in the world.

Nature is not benevolent; Nature is just, gives pound for pound, measure for measure, makes no exceptions, never tempers her decrees with mercy, or winks at any infringement of her laws.

I think rain is as necessary to the mind as to vegetation. My very thoughts become thirsty, and crave the moisture.

Then, again, how annoying to be told it is only five miles to the next place when it is really eight or ten!