Old-growth forests met no needs. They simply were, in a way that bore no questions about purpose or value. They could not be created by men. They could not even be understood by men. They had too many parts that were interconnected in too many ways. Change one part and everything else would change, but in ways that were unpredictable and often inexplicable. This unpredictability removed such forests from the realm of human perspectives and values. The forest did not need to justify or explain itself. It existed outside of instrumental human considerations. Steve Olson
About This Quote

In the book The Forest Unseen, author Robert M. Adams writes about old-growth forests and how they can be a source of wonder and beauty to those who come into contact with them. These forests are different from their younger counterparts in that they have a greater diversity of species, a greater number of species per woodlot, and a greater number of species per acre. As a result of these differences, these forests lose their value as a human commodity.

The value is gone from the forest because it is not being used for any purpose. In fact, they can even be considered to be useless in terms of human culture and education. In addition to this, there is also the fact that these forests are extremely hard to maintain due to their size, stability, and difficulty of access.

Some Similar Quotes
  1. The sunlight claps the earth, and the moonbeams kiss the sea: what are all these kissings worth, if thou kiss not me? - Percy Bysshe Shelley
  2. In youth, it was a way I had, To do my best to please. And change, with every passing lad To suit his theories. But now I know the things I know And do the things I do, And if you do not like me... - Dorothy Parker
  3. If I were a tree, I would have no reason to love a human. - Maggie Stiefvater
  4. A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. - Ingrid Bergman
  5. This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of... - Susan Polis Schutz
More Quotes By Steve Olson
  1. Old-growth forests met no needs. They simply were, in a way that bore no questions about purpose or value. They could not be created by men. They could not even be understood by men. <span style="margin:15px; display:block"></span>They had too many parts that were interconnected in...
Related Topics