Known as the father of the National Parks, and famous for his quotes about nature, John Muir was one of America’s first true naturalists. Muir was actually born in Scotland in 1838 before his family emigrated to the United States in 1849. A farmer by trade, John Muir spend much of his childhood outside, in nature. But it wasn’t until he discovered the American West that his true passion for nature ignited.
In 1868, John Muir booked his first passage to California. As soon as he visited what is now Yosemite National Park, his quest to preserve nature for future generations was born. On 1 March, 1872, his efforts led to his first major accomplishment. That day, President Ulysses S. Grant signing into law the bill that established Yellowstone National Park as the first national park not just in the United States, but also the world.
The Father of the National Parks
Muir was nearly singlehandedly responsible for creating Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in the 1890s. He also heavily influenced the creation of Mt. Rainier National Park (1899) and Grand Canyon National Park (1919). Unfortunately he didn’t live long enough to see it, but his actions led to the U.S. government establishing the National Parks Service in 1916. Today, you’ll see John Muir’s name all over parks, attractions, and nature preserves all over the western United States. In fact, there’s even an entire National Historic Site in California, as well as a peak in the High Sierra named after him.
One of the most famous John Muir quotes about nature states that ”I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature’s loveliness.” While we didn’t base our mission statement off of that quote, it echoes much of the same sentiment both our mission and vision statements do. John Muir’s quotes about nature have inspired us in so many ways. And we hope that they can help inspire you, too, to get out in nature, expand your horizons, and become a better global citizen.
1. On Life’s Paths
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.
This quote encompasses my life in so many different ways. From hiking to my adventures on back country roads, scenic drives, and beyond, quite a few of the paths I’ve taken in life are dirt. As an escape from both the monotony and the stressors in life, those dirt paths are my happy place.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to break out of the stereotypical mold and live the life you want. Don’t stay on the paved road. Be adventuresome. Get out on the dirt and off the beaten path. You’ll be amazed at the places it can take you.
2. On Travel
“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.”
They say that once you’ve caught the travel bug it’s hard to let it go. In addition to his quotes about nature, John Muir had a deep passion for travel. Indeed, he managed to travel to all corners of the United States, from Miami to Barrow, Alaska, and from California to New York City. What’s even more impressive is that he did it long before cars and airplanes even existed. Instead, ship and rail were John Muir’s primary modes of transportation during the prime of his life in the late 1800’s. Regardless of what era you live in, travel is one of the best ways to step out of your comfort zone, experience new cultures, and expand your horizons.
3. On Reaching the Top
“Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach”
The Sierra Nevada mountains had a particularly special place in John Muir’s heart. With his deep love for the mountains, it’s no surprise that he said that you’re at your happiest when you’re near the top of tall mountains. And having climbed quite a few mountains over the years, Muir is 100% correct in this statement. But it goes deeper than standing on the summit of a mountain.
This John Muir quote is also a great metaphor for life. Regardless of whether you’re setting career goals, health goals, personal goals, or any other goal, set them to your highest aspirations. Like making an ascent up a tall mountain, these goals are not meant to be easy. Because you can start to taste it once you get close to the summit. And once you’re standing on top, it’s pure heaven.
4. On the National Parks
“This national beauty-hunger is made manifest…in our magnificent National Parks…Nature’s sublime wonderlands, the admiration and joy of the world.”
You don’t appreciate the true beauty and magnificence of the national parks until you step foot in them. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, ”There is nothing so American as our national parks. The fundamental idea behind the parks is that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us.” Stepping into a national park such as Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, or Grand Teton gives you that true feeling of American liberty and freedom.
But while the United States came up with the concept of the national parks, the magnificence of nature’s sublime wonderlands have spread far beyond the borders of the United States. From Patagonia’s Torres del Paine to Tanzania’s Serengeti to Thailand’s Khao Sok, you can admire nature’s most beautiful creations in national parks all over the world. Because if the National Parks don’t inspire you to get out in nature, I don’t know what will.
5. On Learning
“One day’s exposure to the mountains is better than a cartload of books.”
It wasn’t until I started traveling that I realized how important real-world experience is. While book learning is important, it’s nowhere near as enriching, fulfilling, and even defining as real-world experience. I got my first taste of it while storm chasing as a meteorology student at the University of Oklahoma. But it doesn’t really hit you until you have to watch an EF-5 tornado packing winds over 200 mph tear through one of the most densely-populated areas in the state. At its closest, the tornado passed less than 4 miles from my house.
Or how about living near the U.S.-Mexico border during the Trump presidency. I didn’t trust anything I heard on the news, so I went down to the border to see for myself what it was truly like. I wanted to see how the issue impacted life and opinions on both sides of the border. The experience was eye-opening.
The more you travel, the more you expose yourself to experiences like these. And that in turn drives you to travel for deeper reasons. It piques your interest about new cultures, exotic destinations, and a broader outlook on the world. Because we as a society have grown far too close-minded over the past decade. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world from a different point-of-view. While the experience may only be a brief fleeting moment in time, the lessons, on the other hand, last forever.
6. On The Universe
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest of wilderness.”
If you’re feeling lost for any reason, heading out into nature is one of the best ways to get back on track. You’ll come back refreshed, reinvigorated, and re-motivated. Because often the best way to clear your mind from a forest of thoughts is to go pass through a literal forest of wilderness.
7. On New Beginnings
“Between every two pine trees is a doorway leading to a new way of life.”
This is one of my favorite John Muir quotes because getting out in nature has always been my escape during tough times. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it took the travel photography and nature adventures away from me. All of a sudden, I had no escape from the tough times. As a result, the lockdown made me re-prioritize and reconsider what I wanted my life to look like. So I decided to set off on this incredible next chapter to go off and explore the world.
The lesson here is that if you’re feeling lost or in need of a fresh start, head out into nature. It cleanses the soul, gives you a new perspective, and sows the seeds of new beginnings.
8. On Man
“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 said this in 1897. However, I find this quote to be even more relevant in modern times, with the various climate crises we face today. Because humanity continues to prove time and time again, that we all seem to be fools. And unfortunately, we’re destroying the planet as a result.
9. On The Mountains
“The mountains are the foundations of men as well as of rivers, of glaciers, of fertile soil. The great poets, philosophers, prophets, able men whose thoughts and deeds have moved the world, have come down from the mountains – mountain dwellers who have grown strong there with the forest trees in Nature’s workshops.”
If you’ve ever been to the Sierra Nevadas, or any other majestic mountain range for that matter, this quote should instantly reverberate. The beauty of the mountains seems to provide that connection between you and some higher power. You just don’t get that same feeling in any other landscape. And when you look at photos like these, it just leaves you in awe of its incredible beauty.
10. On Imagination
“The power of imagination makes us infinite.”
No matter what line of work you’re in, don’t be afraid to be creative. In fact, you should embrace it. Think outside the box if you have to. It’s a great way to stimulate your brain. I find that when I get stuck on a problem, I’ll step away from it and do something creative. More often than not, when I come back to it, the solution comes right to me.
The best thing about creativity and imagination is that there are really no limits to what you can do with it. Indeed, people have made careers out of creativity that were unthinkable even just 10 years ago. So go embrace the power of imagination. You’ll be amazed where it can take you. For me, being able to combine the creativity in photography, video, and design, with my technical skills in math, data, and GIS, has allowed me to open some really unique doors and do a lot of things many other people haven’t. Where will your creativity and imagination take you?
Bonus: On Going into Nature
“And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
There is something truly refreshing about going off into nature. The solace of the bright blue skies and the crisp wind blowing through the trees seems to reinvigorate you. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next project, or simply trying to escape the stressors of day-to-day life, head out into nature. It really does refresh the mind and cleanse the soul. And you’ll be in a much better state from it.
Conclusion
John Muir was one of the true pioneers of nature conservation, and his quotes about nature reflect his deep passion for the environment. His contributions to the national parks have reverberated not just throughout the United States, but around the world. Indeed, he was influential in the creation of the first national park in the world.
Establishing Yellowstone National Park sparked a massive nature conservation movement around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Without John Muir’s efforts, the world’s national parks may not exist today. The next time you see John Muir quotes in a national park, or anywhere else out in nature, make sure you stop and appreciate everything he did that made today’s outdoor recreation opportunities possible.
Want to learn more about the national parks? Check out our new Matt Unmapped travel series. We’ll visit many national parks, not just throughout the United States, but around the world. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, either.
Top Photo: Majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains Tower Over Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe, California – February, 2020