John Burroughs: Best Quotes and the Legacy of America’s Nature Essayist
Who Was John Burroughs?
John Burroughs (1837–1921) was an American naturalist and essayist, renowned for his vivid writings about the natural world. Alongside contemporaries like John Muir and Henry David Thoreau, Burroughs helped shape the American conservation and nature writing movement.
He published more than twenty books of essays, celebrating the beauty of rural landscapes, wildlife, and the spiritual benefits of connecting with nature. Through his clear, poetic prose, Burroughs encouraged readers to slow down and observe the wonders of the natural world in their everyday lives.
Best John Burroughs Quotes
Here are 10 inspiring John Burroughs quotes that reflect his love for nature, simplicity, and mindful living:
- “Leap, and the net will appear.”
- “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
- “The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.”
- “A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.”
- “To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday.”
- “Joy in the universe, and keen curiosity about it all — that has been my religion.”
- “If you think you can do it, you can.”
- “The lure of the distant and the difficult is deceptive. The great opportunity is where you are.”
- “A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.”
- “One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.”
John Burroughs’ Enduring Legacy
John Burroughs’ writings helped Americans appreciate the beauty of the everyday natural world. He reminded readers that nature could be found not only in vast wilderness but also in the simple, quiet places close to home.
His essays inspired generations to value simplicity, patience, and close observation — ideals that still resonate today in nature writing, conservation, and the back-to-the-land movement.