Wergeland and early norsk ecological poetry

“There is nothing, great or small,

that is fruitless, or decayed,

but its ending keeps a purpose,

however hidden that may be”

– Henrik Wergeland (1808-1845), from Follow the Call

Carson and strength

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts” (Rachel Carson, unknown source, from Call of the Wild, 2002, pg. 100).

Lost and finding the way

“I offer myself as a nature guide, exploring for values. Many before us have got lost and we must look the world over. The unexamined life is not worth living; life in an unexamined world is not worth living either. We miss too much of value” – Holmes Rolston (Light and Rolston, Environmental Ethics, 2003:143).

Impossible, unthinkable

"If we do not do the impossible, we shall be faced with the unthinkable" (Murray Bookchin, unknown source). –speaking in regards to an ecological disconnect.

More domination and table scraps

"In our own time we have seen domination spread over the social landscape to a point where it is beyond all human control. Compared to this stupendous mobilization of materials, of wealth, of human intellect, of human labor for the single goal of domination, all other recent human achievements pale to almost trivial significance. Our art, science, medicine, literature, music and ‘charitable’ acts seem like mere droppings from a table on which gory feasts on the spoils of conquest have engaged the attention of a system whose appetite for rule is utterly unrestrained" (Murray Bookchin, unknown source).

Singing into existence

“The philosopher Martin Heidegger said all we had to do was sing.  You might have heard other things about him, good and bad, but remember he did say that the Earth needs humanity in order to sing it into existence, to give it word, name, not substance but story.  Much as I too want to sing I can’t quite believe that.  The world is wonderful because it doesn’t need me at all, except perhaps to save it from the sum total of human mistake” (David Rothenberg, Always the Mountains, pg. viii).