Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the green deep woods. Here grow the wallflower and the violet. The squirrel will come and sit upon your knee, the logcock will wake you in the morning. Sleep in forgetfulness of all ill. Of all the upness accessible to mortals, there is no upness comparable to the mountains.

...therefore all childish fear must be put away.

There is a love of wild nature in everybody, an ancient mother-love showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties

Lie down among the pines for a while, then get to plain pure white love-work ... to help humanity and other mortals and the Lord.

All the world was before me and every day was a holiday, so it did not seem important to which one of the world's wildernesses I first should wander.

So abundant and novel are the objects of interest in a pure wilderness that unless you are pursuing special studies it matters little where you go, or how often to the same place. Wherever you chance to be always seems at the moment of all places the best; and you feel that there can be no happiness in this world or in any other for those who may not be happy there.

The most distinctive, and perhaps the most impressive, characteristic of American scenery is its wilderness.