“John of the Mountains”
Courtesy of Wikipedia
John Muir was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States.
John arrived on the earth in April 1838 and I arrived one hundred years later. How grateful I am for his leadership. He made it possible through his exploration and writing and spiritual pursuits, for millions of people to find the many rich gifts that nature offers, particularly in the Sierra Mountains. He was largely responsible for the establishment of Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park.
Among his many memorable quotes are the following–each one enough to focus on for an entire day or more.
“Earth has no sorrow that earth cannot heal.”
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.”
“Most people are on the world, not in it. ”
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”
“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”
“One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.”
“In our best times everything turns into religion, all the world seems a church and the mountains altars.”
“I never saw a discontented tree.”
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12
Ah, you hit a soft spot for me !
Ever since I attended John Muir Elementary School in Merced CA. 1939-42 where I learned all about him , he has been one of my heroes! Yosemite is a sacred place . My niece just hiked the John Muir Trail there with a group of women as a fund raising project for “Fred Challenge”
I love to read his writings. Thank for the great excerpts!
Correction. It is Freedom Challenge. .
Thanks, Etta Mae. It’s fun for me to know that John Muir is one of your heroes too.
Loved this tribute to Muir and all his quotes. Thanks, Karen!
Thanks, Glenda. I’m glad to hear John’s words spoke to you.
I love the last quote: “I never saw a discontended tree”. I love trees! They are wonderful and one of my favorite solos I sang in college was simply called “Trees”. The words are wonderful beginning with the words: ” I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree” and the final words are: Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree”! Of course we never think of a poet being a ‘fool’smile, but I guess the writer was speaking about himself. I loved climbing a wild cherry tree when I was from seven to eleven years old.(one of the places where we lived) I would climb to the top and sing ! Ha! Guess it was good we did not have close neighbors! Thanks, Karen, for bringing back good memories.
P,S, there is a beautiful poem named “Trees” that is also
Margaret, I really enjoyed hearing you love trees. Charles felt the same way and really appreciated all the redwoods in Santa Cruz County, where we lived for 13 years before he died.
Karen thank for sending the tribute to John Muir. The redwoods are so majestic. His quotes are timely.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Oops hit the anonymous button
The one above is from me.
Glad you told me it was you. I wondered.
I loved the quotes, too, and read your blog to
Kai. We were just In Yosemite and he bought yet another John Muir book! He used to got here a lot when young to backpack and climb. I climbed with him by Yosemite Falls. My only real climb!
Love and miss you!
Thanks, Bev. I was close to Yosemite for a week with hiking friends. We camped in Mammoth. Home now and enjoying the memories. Glad to hear you and Kai were in the area too. I miss you, as well. We’ve shared so many good times over the years.