98 Nature Quotes to Inspire Appreciation & Protection (2024)
From authors to activists and celebrities to scientists, TRVST's curated selection of the best nature quotes below reminds us to appreciate nature and nature's beauty and not to take its presence for granted.
The sight of flowers blooming, rain falling, the ocean crashing, and many other natural wonders may seem normal to us. But all these events are only possible in one place: the natural environment, our Mother Earth. Nature is worth celebrating, and read on for words, sayings, and quotes to share and inspire nature's appreciation and conservation.
Quick links to our selection of nature quotes:
Quotes About Nature And Experiencing All It Has To Offer
Nature unveils wonders as we step away from our screens and daily routines. From the gentle rhythm of waves on the shore to the towering majesty of ancient trees or the zooming dragonfly on a fine summer's day, these experiences remind us of the interconnectedness of all living beings.
To kick things off, here are some of our favorite nature quotes to inspire us all to break free of everyday drudgery with a walk in nature.
"I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery, air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, This is what it is to be happy."
- Sylvia Plath
"The beauty of the natural world lies in the details."
- Natalie Angier
"The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see."
- Albert Einstein
"This curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than it is useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used."
- Henry David Thoreau
"There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more."
- Lord Byron
"Beauty and seduction, I believe, is nature's tool for survival, because we will protect what we fall in love with."
- Louie Schwartzberg
"Nature is not always tricked in holiday attire, but the same scene which yesterday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs, is overspread with melancholy today. Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. To a man laboring under calamity, the heat of his own fire hath sadness in it."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting—over and over announcing your place in the family of things.
~ Mary Oliver
Nature Quotes Inspiring Others To Explore Our Natural World
Some argue we have only one master: nature. Going outside and discovering nature's heart engulfs us with everything good.
These quotes about nature's beauty and power serve as a nudge, reminding us of the awe-inspiring adventures awaiting us when we break free from our daily grind, get outdoors, and fully embrace the present moment in the natural world.
"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day."
- Henry David Thoreau
"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug."
- Helen Keller
"There’s a whole world out there, right outside your window. You’d be a fool to miss it."
- Charlotte Eriksson
"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby."
- Langston Hughes
"I'm happiest walking through fields, on beaches, and over riverbanks. Nature is my surrogate mother."
- Marco Pierre White
"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
- Khalil Gibran
"Life sucks a lot less when you add mountain air, a campfire and some peace and quiet."
- Brooke Hampton
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
- John Ruskin
"I think nature's imagination is so much greater than man's, she's never going to let us relax"
- Richard Phillips Feynman
Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
~ Sir John Lubbock
Positive Quotes About What Nature Can Teach Us About Life
"Mother Nature is always speaking. She speaks in a language understood within the peaceful mind of the sincere observer. Leopards, cobras, monkeys, rivers and trees; they all served as my teachers when I lived as a wanderer in the Himalayan foothills."
- Radhanath Swami
"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
"Nature's beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude."
- Louie Schwartzberg
"Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are."
- Gretel Ehrlich
"Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature."
- Steve Maraboli
"By discovering nature, you discover yourself."
- Maxime Lagacé
"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds."
- Edward Abbey
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
- Henry David Thoreau
"There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story."
- Linda Hogan
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo
You can cut all the flowers, but you can't keep spring from coming.
~ Pablo Neruda
Gray skies are just clouds passing over.
~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Heartwarming Nature Quotes About Its Benefits To Our Well-Being
Nature's magical power to heal, comfort, and rejuvenate our minds and bodies often surprises us. Just setting foot in the great outdoors can change our emotional state—lifting our spirits and bringing a sense of calm and inner peace.
To back these claims, multiple studies revealed the effects of nature on our mental health and physical well-being. From the Japanese practice of forest bathing or shinrin yoku to the serenity found in urban green spaces, studies have shown immersing ourselves in nature improves our mental health and strengthens our immune system1.
The nature sayings and quotes below hint at our planet's power to cure. Whether living quietly or seeking calm and serenity, nature has so much to offer.
"Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time."
- Katrina Mayer
"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."
- Robert Louis Stevenson
"If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand."
- Buddha
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature-the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."
- Rachel Carson
"People Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."
- Hans Christian Andersen
"I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits unless I spend four hours a day at least and it is commonly more than that sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements."
- Henry David Thoreau
Not just beautiful, though — the stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they're watching me.
~ Haruki Murakami
Storms make trees take deeper roots.
~ Duke Ellington
Revealing The Impact Of Humanity
Everything we do and create is subject to the influence of nature. When rain falls and volcanoes erupt, we experience the power of nature. In the same light, nature is also subject to our influences.
This section reminds us of our actions' impact on our natural surroundings and urges us to take action.
"When all the world appears to be in a tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then, winter, will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginnings of soft greens, longer light, and the sweet air of spring."
- Madeleine M. Kunin
"Nature doesn't need people people need nature; nature would survive the extinction of the human being and go on just fine, but human culture, human beings, cannot survive without nature."
- Harrison Ford
"The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble."
- Blaise Pascal
"Around New York City, samples collected at dozens of beaches or piers have detected the types of bacteria and other pollutants tied to sewage overflows. Though the city's drinking water comes from upstate reservoirs, environmentalists say untreated excrement and other waste in the city's waterways pose serious health risks."
- Charles Duhigg
Eye-Opening Nature Quotes To Encourage People To Protect The Planet
Nature seduces us as a way of fighting for her survival. It wants humans to fall in love with her so that they can all protect her. So, to preserve the beauty we see around us, we must love nature and protect her.
Sometimes, a handful of thought-provoking words is all it takes to spark a shift in our minds. After all, as the saying goes, "There is no Planet B."
"Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man."
- Stewart Udall
"For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realise that, in order to survive, he must protect it."
- Jacques-Yves Cousteau
"Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
- Carl Sagan
"Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do."
- Michel de Montaigne
"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with nature."
- Joseph Campbell
"The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity…and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself."
- William Blake
If we save our wild places, we will ultimately save ourselves.
~ Steve Irwin
Top Quotes About Nature From The Father Of National Parks
Any list of nature quotes will not be complete without the words from John Muir. Muir is known as the "Father of National Parks" and the "John of the Mountains." His writings describe his love of our natural world and ecology. At the same time, his work was instrumental in creating and preserving now world-famous national parks, including Yosemite and Sequoia National Park.
These quotes feature John Muir's passion for the wild and gently remind us that we must preserve these invaluable spaces for future generations to explore.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
- John Muir
"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean."
- John Muir
"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."
- John Muir
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn."
- John Muir
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."
- John Muir
Quotes From Scientists And Engineers Reflecting on Nature's Timeless Beauty
Scientists and engineers have long marveled at nature's wonders, drawing inspiration from its intricate patterns and structures throughout history. Biomimicry is a perfect example of nature's influence.
Take, for instance, the bullet train's design inspired by the kingfisher's beak's aerodynamics or the advanced materials that repel dirt and water, mimicking a lotus leaf's self-cleaning properties. These biomimicry examples showcase nature's timeless beauty's profound impact on human progress. Read more insights from great minds through their quotes celebrating Nature's importance throughout our progress.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
- Albert Einstein
"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."
- Rachel Carson
"Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere."
- Blaise Pascal
"The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."
- Galileo Galilei
"That the sea is one of the most beautiful and magnificent sights in Nature, all admit."
- John Joly
"All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child."
- Marie Curie
"I believe the best way to begin reconnecting humanity's heart, mind, and soul to nature is for us to share our individual stories."
- J. Drew Lanham
"Nature is a brilliant engineer and builder. It knows how to create seashells that are twice as strong as the most resistant ceramics human beings can manufacture, and it produces silk fibers five times stronger than steel. Nature also knows how to create multipurpose forms."
- Neri Oxman
Noteworthy Nature Quotes From Authors And Poets
Throughout history, authors and poets have found endless inspiration in nature's beauty, using it as a canvas for their literary masterpieces. The literary giants' works, like Thoreau's "Walden" or Wordsworth's "Daffodils," emphasize the importance of connecting with the natural world and appreciating its inherent beauty.
After immersing yourself in the eloquent quotes of authors and poets, schedule a day to spend in nature.
"In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful."
- Alice Walker
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
- William Shakespeare
"Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay."
- Robert Frost
"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor such is my idea of happiness."
- Leo Tolstoy
"If we surrendered to earth's intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees."
- Rainer Maria Rilke
"Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand."
- Henry David Thoreau
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine, and things pushing up and working under the earth."
- Frances Hodgson Burnett
The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration.
~ Claude Monet
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous
~ Aristotle
If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
Time spent amongst trees is never time wasted.
~ Katrina Mayer
We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.
~ Albert Einstein
When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.
~ John Lennon
Nature is the art of God.
~ Dante Alighieri
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.
~ Walt Whitman
Famous Quotes And Sayings About Nature From Personalities
It's no secret that nature is everything to us. And preserving nature as it is is really about preserving ourselves. While impacting the earth through commercial activities is almost inevitable, mutual co-existence with nature's splendor should be our goal.
One fine example is Frank Lloyd Wright, the eminent American architect who infused nature into the very essence of his architectural designs. It's no wonder that Wright's iconic works, such as Fallingwater, captivate us with their seamless integration into the landscape, as his words to get this section started ably describe.
"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."
- Frank Lloyd Wright
"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."
- Vincent Van Gogh
"I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want."
- Andy Warhol
"Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries."
- Jimmy Carter
"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles."
- Anne Frank
"I have never been in a natural place and felt that it was a waste of time. I never have. And it's a relief. If I'm walking around a desert or whatever, every second is worthwhile."
- Viggo Mortensen
"Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things."
- Lao Tzu
Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.
~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Perfect Nature Captions To Post On Social Media
While Experiencing Natural Beauty.
Whether we are getting out in the fresh air to explore the true beauty of nature or profoundly immersing ourselves in discovering nature and its meanings, the amazing nature quotes below allow us to express our experience on Instagram and other social media platforms.
"We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
- Native American proverb
"Nothing is art if it does not come from nature."
- Antoni Gaudi
"The earth laughs in flowers."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."
- Lady Bird Johnson
"Every natural action is graceful."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Colors are the smiles of nature."
- Leigh Hunt
"Choose only one master – nature."
- Rembrandt
"The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it."
- Barry Commoner
"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature."
- Gerard De Nerval
"I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it."
- William Shakespeare
"Nature is an endless combination and repetition of a very few laws."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Nature is indifferent to our love, but never unfaithful."
- Edward Abbey
| 1 | Li, Q. (2010). Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), 9-17. |
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
