On behalf of the Ecolympics organizing committee, Prof. Daniel Hudon writes…
Thanks to Prof. Stephanie Nelson for kicking off the Core Eco-Quotes Project in conjunction with the Ecolympics. She points out that the philosopher Lao Tzu has some great eco-quotes, such as this one, from the 8 section of the Tao Te Ching:
Best to be like water
Which benefits the ten thousand things
And does not contend
and this one, from the 29th section:
The world is a spiritual vessel
And cannot be controlled
She also brought to our attention two quotes from poet William Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey.” Here are lines 107 to 111:
well pleased to recognize
in nature and the language of the sense
The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse,
The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul
Of all my moral being.
and here are lines 122 to 123:
Nature never did betray
The heart that loved her.
Thanks to Professor Nelson for your contributions!
Prof. Anthony Corsentino also pointed out us a great quote from the Tao, section 53:
The Great TAO is very smooth,
But people like rough trails.The government is divided,
Fields are overgrown,
Granaries are empty,
But the nobles’ clothes are gorgeous,
Their belts show off swords,
And they are glutted with food and drink.
Personal wealth is excessive.This is called thieves’ endowment,
But it is not TAO.
Thanks Professor Corsentino!
It would be great to get some student contributions for the Project. So keep your eyes and your mind open for eco-themed quotes as you’re doing your Core readings! Email anything you come across to hudon@bu.edu, to be included in a future round-up.
