"As the people of Shishmaref lose their natural hunting grounds to the warming sea, they are forced to buy U.S. Canned goods from the only local store on the island; however, this is not their natural diet and cannot sustain them throughout the year."

"Some of the natural world is appealing, some of it is terrifying, and some of it grosses us out. Modern people don't want to be dropped naked into a swamp. We want to tour Yosemite with our water bottles and G.P.S. Devices. The natural world is a source of happiness and fulfillment, but only when prescribed in the right doses."

"I would not sacrifice a single living mesquite tree for any book ever written. One square mile of living desert is worth a hundred 'great books' - and one brave deed is worth a thousand."

"Nature is at work. Character and destiny are her handiwork. She gives us love and hate, jealousy and reverence. All that is ours is the power to choose which impulse we shall follow."

"...She doesn't have to choose between being gentle or being fierce. Both exist in nature and both exist in her. That's ok. She'll know to nourish them both and when applicable, use each unapologetically."