Elizabeth Rothra's excellent biography of Charles Torrey Simpson restates his philosophies about the intrinsic value of natural ecosystems like the Everglades. No one knew better than he the history of the plants and animals of South Florida or conveyed it with more humor and enthusiasm.

I take advantage of every thing I can - age, hair, disability - because my cause is just.

There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them.

Child welfare ought really to cover all sorts of topics, such as better water and sanitation and good roads, and clean streets and public parks and playgrounds.

I'll talk about the Everglades at the drop of a hat.

You have to stand up for some things in this world.

It is a woman's business to be interested in the environment. It's an extended form of housekeeping.