Wilderness Essays

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation. His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his n

Characters

John Muir (6)

Wherever there were glaciers, the world was in a constant state of creation.

— John Muir, amazon.com

glaciers Creation

We turned and sailed away, joining the outgoing bergs, while ‘gloria in excels is’ still seemed to be sounding over all the white landscape, and our burning hearts were ready for any fate, feeling that whatever the future might have in store, the treasures we had gain would enrich our lives forever.

— John Muir, amazon.com

sailing Gloria in excelsis

As if nothing that does not obviously make for the benefit of man had any right to exist; as if our ways were God's ways.

— John Muir, amazon.com

Egocentrism God

But it is in the darkest nights, when storms are blowing and the agitated waves are phosphorescent, that the most impressive displays are made.

— John Muir, amazon.com

Dark Nights Storms Waves

Though it is 2500 feet high, the glacier flowed over its ground as a river flows over a boulder; and since it emerged from the icy sea as from a sepulcher it has been sorely beaten with storms; but from all those deadly, crushing, bitter experiences comes this delicate life and beauty, to teach us t…

— John Muir, amazon.com

Glacier River Boulder beauty Destruction

You bathe in these spirit-beams, turning round and round, as if warming at a camp-fire. Presently you lose consciousness of your own separate existence: you blend with the landscape, and become part and parcel of nature.

— John Muir, amazon.com

Campfire Nature

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