Home / Quotes / Quote by Russell Kirk

Quote by Russell Kirk

“Why do we not exhaust the heritage of the ages, spiritual and material for our immediate pleasure, and let posterity go hang? So far as simple rationality is concerned, self-interest can advance no argument against the appetite of present possessors. Yet within some of us, a voice that is not the demand of self-interest or pure rationality says that we have no right to give ourselves enjoyment at the expense of our ancestors' memory and our descendants' prospects. We hold our present advantages only in trust.”

Quote by Russell Kirk

Author

Russell Kirk, an American historian, was born in October 1918 and died on April 29, 1994. His research focused on conservative thought, American history, and culture, and had a profound impact on 20th-century American politics and culture. more

You May Also Like

“...ambition without pious restraint must end in failure, often involving in its ruin that beautiful reverence which solaces common men for the obscurity and poverty of their lot.”

Men Ends Beautiful Common Poverty Ambition Conservative Ruins Reverence Restraint Obscurity Solace Involving Pious Common Man

Book:The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot

Source: The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot

“And Burke, could he see our century, never would concede that a consumption-society, so near to suicide, is the end for which Providence has prepared man.”

Men Ends Century Suicide Prepared Providence Consumption

Book:The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot

Source: The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot

“The last suit that you wear, you don't need any pockets.”

Needs Motivational Lasts Spiritual Death Dying Self Improvement Suits Pockets

Author:Wayne Dyer

“The great question of the seventies is, shall we surrender to our surroundings, or shall we make our peace with nature and begin to make reparations for the damage we have done to our air, to our land, and to our water?”

Done Water Air Land Conservative Surrender Damage Seventies Surroundings Reparations

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

“Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions. It has become a common cause of all the people of this country. It is a cause of particular concern to young Americans, because they more than we will reap the grim consequences of our failure to act on programs which are needed now if we are to prevent disaster later.”

People Ifs Country States Young Causes Natural Party Common Particular Needed Consequence Concern Program Conservative Disaster Reap Grim Factions Restoring Failure To Act

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Clean air, clean water, open spaces - these should once again be the birthright of every American.”

Should Water Space Air Clean Conservative Birthright Clean Water Open Spaces Clean Air

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

“We still think of air as free. But clean air is not free, and neither is clean water. The price tag on pollution control is high. Through our years of past carelessness we incurred a debt to nature, and now that debt is being called.”

Thinking Years Stills Past Water Air Clean Conservative Debt Pollution Tag Carelessness Clean Water Price Tag Clean Air Pollution Control

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

“As our cities and suburbs relentlessly expand, those priceless open spaces needed for recreation areas accessible to their people are swallowed up-often forever. Unless we preserve these spaces while they are still available, we will have none to preserve.”

People Stills Space Cities Forever Needed Areas Conservative Available Preserves Priceless Recreation Suburbs Open Spaces

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970

“We can no longer afford to consider air and water common property, free to be abused by anyone without regard to the consequences. Instead, we should begin now to treat them as scarce resources, which we are no more free to contaminate than we are free to throw garbage into our neighbor's yard.”

Should Water Common Air Consequence Resources Treats Regard Property Environmental Conservative Neighbor Pollution Yards Garbage Scarce Air And Water Scarce Resources

Author:Richard M. Nixon

“Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.”