Science has done more for the development of western civilization in one hundred years than Christianity did in eighteen hundred years.

About John Burroughs

John Burroughswas an American naturalist and nature essayist, active in the conservation movement in the United States. The first of his essay collections was Wake-Robin in 1871.

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More quotes from John Burroughs

Travel and society polish one, but a rolling stone gathers no moss, and a little moss is a good thing on a man.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice – no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Nature teaches more than she preaches. There are no sermons in stones. It is easier to get a spark out of a stone than a moral.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Life is a struggle, but not a warfare.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

The spirit of man can endure only so much and when it is broken only a miracle can mend it.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

I have discovered the secret of happiness – it is work, either with the hands or the head. The moment I have something to do, the draughts are open and my chimney draws, and I am happy.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

The secret of happiness is something to do.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

I seldom go into a natural history museum without feeling as if I were attending a funeral.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Joy in the universe, and keen curiosity about it all – that has been my religion.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Blessed is the man who has some congenial work, some occupation in which he can put his heart, and which affords a complete outlet to all the forces there are in him.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

To treat your facts with imagination is one thing, to imagine your facts is another.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

One may summon his philosophy when they are beaten in battle, not till then.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Some men are like nails, very easily drawn; others however are more like rivets never drawn at all.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

To me – old age is always ten years older than I am.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

It is always easier to believe than to deny. Our minds are naturally affirmative.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

If you think you can do it, you can.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Some scenes you juggle two balls, some scenes you juggle three balls, some scenes you can juggle five balls. The key is always to speak in your own voice. Speak the truth. That’s Acting 101. Then you start putting layers on top of that.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a place, but a state of mind.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

A man can get discouraged many times but he is not a failure until he begins to blame somebody else and stops trying.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Science has done more for the development of western civilization in one hundred years than Christianity did in eighteen hundred years.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

Leap, and the net will appear.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

There is hardly a man on earth who will take advice unless he is certain that it is positively bad.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)

If we take science as our sole guide, if we accept and hold fast that alone which is verifiable, the old theology must go.

John Burroughs

American naturalist and essayist (1837-1921)