“We keep each other alive with our stories. We need to share them, as much as we need to share food. We also require for our health the presence of good companions. One of the most extraordinary things about the land is that it knows this—and it compels language from some of us so that as a community we may converse about this or that place, and speak of the need.” KnowsNeedsMayStoriesSpeakLanguageCommunityAliveShareLandExtraordinaryCompanionConversesExtraordinary Things Author:Barry Lopez
“You can't learn anything from saguaro cactus, from ocotillo. They are just passing through; their roots, their much heralded dormancy in the dry season, these are only illusions of permanence. They know even less than you do.” KnowsTimeEducationKnowledgeLearningIllusionRootsSeasonsEducationalPassingPassingsDryPermanencePassing ThroughCactus Book:Desert Notes and River Notes Source: Desert Notes and River Notes
“The land retains an identity of its own, still deeper and more subtle than we can know. Our obligation toward it then becomes simple: to approach with an uncalculating mind, with an attitude of regard...be alert for its openings, for that moment when something sacred reveals itself within the mundane, and you know the land knows you are there.” KnowsMindStillsMomentsSimpleAttitudeLandIdentityApproachRegardSacredAgingDeeperObligationOpeningSubtleThat MomentMundane Author:Barry Lopez
“The writer works on the inside and the critic works on the outside. I don't know what it looks like on the outside, sometimes. It's not that I'm not interested-it's not where I live. I live inside the story.” KnowsWritingLooksSometimesStoriesCriticsNot Interested Author:Barry Lopez
“I know of no restorative of heart, body, and soul more effective against hopelessness than the restoration of the Earth.” KnowsInspirationalHeartSoulBodyEarthHopelessnessRestorationEnviromental Author:Barry Lopez
“People think that if you've written a book and somebody's given you a pat on the back then, you know, it's all - you're all settled, you know? You're going to be fine. I know that if I'm not confused, and really afraid, my work isn't going to be any good.” PeopleIfsThinkingKnowsBookGivenWrittenFineConfused Author:Barry Lopez
