65 John Muir Quotes (On Nature, Conservation, Adventure)

Top 10 QuotesNature QuotesHealing QuotesConservation QuotesWisdom QuotesAdventure QuotesJohn Muir’s messageTakeawaysFurther Readings

john muir quotes wisdom
Step into the wild with John Muir quotes that still echo through time.

John Muir has left us a legacy of words as enduring as the landscapes he loved. John Muir’s insights resonate now more than ever in our fast-paced, modern world.

My family and I went on a hike in Montana to a lake nestled in the mountains amongst a forest. We looked down at thousands of treetops right before getting to the lake. This moment will always stand out to me because it was such a powerful reminder of the adventure and wonder the natural world offers.

In this article, you’ll discover a treasure trove of John Muir quotes, each a beacon of inspiration and a call to preserve the natural world. As a pioneering environmentalist, Muir’s words not only celebrate the grandeur of nature. They also remind us of our intrinsic connection to the Earth’s beauty and the urgent need to protect it.

As you explore these quotes, you’ll find solace in Muir’s profound connection with nature, gain insights into the importance of environmental stewardship, and feel inspired to follow in his footsteps.

This collection of John Muir’s quotes serves as a window into the soul of nature, offering you a chance to pause, reflect, and find solace in his timeless wisdom.

So, who was John Muir?

  • A renowned naturalist, environmental philosopher, and advocate for wilderness preservation (1838-1914)
  • Co-founder of the Sierra Club, one of the earliest and most influential conservation organizations in the United States
  • Known as the “Father of the National Parks” for his pivotal role in the establishment of national parks such as Yosemite and Sequoia
  • His writings and activism were instrumental in the early American conservation movement, inspiring future generations to protect and appreciate nature

Whether you’re seeking a moment of peace or a spark of adventure, let Muir’s words guide you toward a more harmonious relationship with nature.

Enjoy!

The Top 10 John Muir Quotes

john muir quotes mountains calling must wisdom

The mountains are calling, and I must go. John Muir

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir

None of Nature’s landscapes are ugly so long as they are wild. John Muir

There is nothing more eloquent in Nature than a mountain stream. John Muir

Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen. John Muir

john muir quotes into woods lose mind find soul wisdom

And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. John Muir

Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach. John Muir

There is no repose like that of the green deep woods. John Muir

I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature’s loveliness. John Muir

Earth has no sorrow that earth can not heal. John Muir

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John Muir Quotes About ​​Nature’s Majesty

john muir quotes between every two pines wisdom

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world. John Muir

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. John Muir

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! John Muir

If one pine were placed in a town square, what admiration it would excite! Yet who is conscious of the pine-tree multitudes in the free woods, though open to everybody? John Muir

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. John Muir

One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books. John Muir

The sun shines not on us, but in us. John Muir

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John Muir Quotes on The Healing Power of Nature

john muir quotes come woods here rest wisdom

Come to the woods, for here is rest. John Muir

Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. John Muir

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. John Muir

Going to the mountains is going home. John Muir

Wilderness is a necessity… There must be places for human beings to satisfy their souls. John Muir

The world is big, and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark. John Muir

Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. John Muir

I’d rather be in the mountains thinking of God than in church thinking about the mountains. John Muir

Most people are on the world, not in it. John Muir

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. John Muir

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John Muir Quotes About the Importance of Preservation and Conservation

john muir quotes everybody needs beauty bread play pray wisdom

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in. John Muir

The wilderness is a naturalist’s paradise. John Muir

The battle we have fought and are still fighting for the forests is a part of the eternal conflict between right and wrong. John Muir

God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools. John Muir

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. John Muir

The wrongs done to trees, wrongs of every sort, are done in the darkness of ignorance and unbelief. John Muir

The forests of America, however slighted by man, must have been a great delight to God; for they were the best he ever planted. John Muir

We are now in the mountains, and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. John Muir

Take a course in good water and air, and in the eternal youth of Nature, you may renew your own. John Muir

Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away. John Muir

John Muir Quotes Offering Timeless Wisdom

john muir quotes you are not the mountains you wisdom

You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you. John Muir

Few places in this world are more dangerous than home. John Muir

Most people who travel look only at what they are directed to look at. Great is the power of the guidebook maker, however ignorant. John Muir

One should go to the woods for safety, if for nothing else. John Muir

Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. John Muir

Handle a book as a bee does a flower, extract its sweetness but do not damage it. John Muir

I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast-rooted, they travel about as far as we do. John Muir

Who wouldn’t be a mountaineer! Up here all the world’s prizes seem nothing. John Muir

Sheep, like people, are ungovernable when hungry. John Muir

The power of imagination makes us infinite. John Muir

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John Muir Quotes to Feed Your Sense of Adventure and Exploration

john muir quotes paths take life few dirt wisdom

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt. John Muir

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir

A few minutes ago, every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. John Muir

The best way to learn about nature is to make yourself part of it. John Muir

I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news. John Muir

Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands. John Muir

john muir quotes gloaries mountain campfire guessed wisdom

The glories of a mountain campfire are far greater than may be guessed. John Muir

I’m losing the precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news. John Muir

How many hearts with warm red blood in them are beating under cover of the woods? John Muir

To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world. John Muir

The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere. John Muir

Conclusion

john muir quotes went out walk concluded sundown wisdom

I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. John Muir

What is John Muir’s message?

John Muir’s message centers on the profound connection between humans and nature.

Each of these John Muir quotes emphasizes the importance of preserving natural landscapes and immersing oneself in the wilderness.

He believed it is not only crucial for the health of the planet but also for individual well-being. Muir advocated that nature is a source of joy, inspiration, and spiritual nourishment.

His activism and writings passionately argued that the conservation of wild places is essential for the future of humanity. His message encouraged people to experience, appreciate, and protect the natural world.

Muir’s legacy inspires ongoing efforts in environmental stewardship and appreciation for the beauty and significance of nature.
john muir

Key Takeaways

By Maxime Lagacé

Do you want to know how to apply John Muir’s quotes to your life?

Here are the top 3 takeaways.

  • Connect with nature. John Muir spent lots of time in the wilderness. So take a vow to spend at least 30 minutes each morning to walk outside, ideally in nature. Better yet, spend another 30-60 minutes after dinner to walk again. By spending more time outside, you’ll sleep better, feel less anxious, and boost your creativity. (And many other benefits)
  • Value simplicity. John Muir valued the preservation of nature and the connection to it. So avoid buying things you don’t need. Keep your desires under control. Give or sell stuff you don’t use anymore. Spend time walking in the forest. Hike a mountain with a friend.
  • Be more present. John Muir loved to be “lost” in nature. This way, he was able to “find” himself and gain self-knowledge. So become more aware of your surroundings, appreciate the details, and fully experience nature as it is. Look at the trees, the birds and other animals. Hear the sounds and feel the air. Take deep breaths. Take forest bathing.

Further Readings

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