The belief that we can manage the Earth and improve on Nature is probably the ultimate expression of human conceit, but it has deep roots in the past and is almost universal.

Biologically, man is still the great amateur of the animal kingdom; he is unique in his lack of anatomical and physiological specialization.

Man could escape danger only by renouncing adventure, by abandoning that which has given to the human condition its unique character and genius among the rest of living things.

The belief that we can manage the Earth and improve on Nature is probably the ultimate expression of human conceit, but it has deep roots in the past and is almost universal.

What happens in the mind of man is always reflected in the disease of his body.

Each civilization has its own kind of pestilence and can control it only by reforming itself.

... each type of civilization has had diseases peculiar to it and at each period the various social groups in any community also have differed in this regard.