Every year in late April, the US celebrates Earth Day, where we take stock in how we’ve treated the planet and how we can do better. Earth Day was started in the 1970s, at the height of the counterculture movement, and brought lots of media attention and celebrity endorsements to issues pertaining to endangered species, destroyed habitats, pollution, waste, and more. Today, many schools use the day to teach conservation methods, take a nature walk, or call for changes in behavior that will help conserve the planets resources, such as recycling bottles or reusing containers rather than throwing them out after one use. Poets and writers have all regaled the beauty of nature and the importance of spending time in the areas not yet developed by humans. Here are some quotes we can use as inspiration regarding the importance of nature.
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Often in business, especially with the proliferation of hot-shot millennial tech startups, patience hasn’t gotten the attention and credit it deserves in best business practice. Companies running the gamut of industries have moved too fast to consider sustainability and long-term growth to the point where they fold spectacularly and publicly. On the contrary, some companies have taken their time to do in-depth projections, examine their markets, and move forward with a solid and sustainable plan. Patience is key to long term success.
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed. -Ghandi
Along the same lines, many of today’s corporations have been accused of being greedy to the point where their desire for money outweighs any moral or human-centered thinking. Amazon continues to make headlines for their mistreatment of workers, and Uber has recently landed in hot water for sending out a self-driving car that was so far from road-worthy that it killed a pedestrian. However, those who run a business selflessly — with workers, suppliers, and customers at the center rather than investors and profits — enjoy a long and happy career surrounded by people who enjoy their work and make the world better.
“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” —Lady Bird Johnson
Community development initiatives have pushed for better spaces for everyone to gather, discuss, celebrate, and fraternize. While usually these spaces are buildings with public access, former first lady Lady Bird Johnson noted that we have always had these places in nature. She always encouraged Americans to commune with each other and with nature as a way to seek similarities with each other rather than dwell on differences. Everyone can cooperate and pool resources on keeping the environment accessible and clean.