“I am trying to understand what it means to own a thing, especially a wild and living being. To have exclusive rights to its fate? To dispose of it at will? To deny others it’s use? Ownership seems a uniquely human behavior, a social contract validating the desire for purposeless possession and control. To destroy a wild thing for pride seems a potent act of domination. Wildness cannot be collected and still remain wild. Its nature is lost the moment it is separated from its origins. By the very act of owning, the thing becomes an object, no longer itself.”
Quote by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Work
Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses
This book delves into the world of mosses, examining their ecological roles, distribution, and the various ways mosses have been perceived and utilized by humans throughout history. more
Author
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer is an American author, ecologist, and indigenous plant scientist. Born in 1953, she is a member of the Hénan-Hénatsi tribe and an active advocate for environmental protection. Her work blends science, literature, and indigenous knowledge, exploring the relationship between humans and nature. more
You May Also Like
Source: ABSOLUTE
Source: Forty-One False Starts: Essays on Artists and Writers
Source: Reunion
Source: Episode
Source: The Other Typist