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-Muir, John, "The Yosemite". John Muir: A Reading Bibliography by Kimes. 348. 1912

-Thoreau, Henry David. “Walking.” In The Making of the American Essay, edited by John D'Agata, 167–95. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016.

-Menrisky, Alexander. ENGL 2635E Lecture, [2023]

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Thoreau felt that developing a connection with nature needed a particular level of focus and awareness. He urged people to take their time, observe the natural world carefully, and take note of the small features and rhythms in their surroundings. Thoreau's views on individual liberty and self-reliance were intimately related to his natural philosophy. Many of the issues today regarding global warming, pollution, and habitat destruction stem from a lack of awareness and respect for nature. Unfortunately, not everyone pursues the deep connections that Thoreau was able to establish with the wilderness. HDT felt that spending time in nature may help us develop a stronger feeling of connection to and comprehension of the world around us. He considered the natural world as a source of inspiration and wisdom.

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In his book, Muir describes his appreciation and astonishment for the valley's stunning natural features, especially the soaring rock formations that create its walls. No temple created by humans, or rather, no building created by humans, can compete with Yosemite, according to Muir. He provides the nature with a sense of personification, which makes his writing feel that much more personal. He perceives the valley walls' rocks as living creatures that are both humbling and uplifting in their vibrancy and activity. The creativity of nature in which is not man-made and yet carries so much beauty is what Muir wanted people to appreciate, experience, and conserve. Through this lens, the concrete distinction between nature and culture can be made.

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When Muir says to stay close to "Nature's heart", this refers to maintaining a relationship with the natural world, being aware of the rhythms and cycles of life, and appreciating the beauty and complexity of the surrounding landscape. He proposed that nature should be revered and maintained for its own sake rather than being treated as a collection of resources to be used by humans. Muir firmly believed that the wilderness may promote one's mental and spiritual well-being. He thought that being in the woods may help to purify the soul and revitalize the spirit because he regarded nature as a place where individuals could connect with something bigger than themselves.

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Thoreau views the wilderness as a mental condition as much as a physical location. He thinks that by rejecting social conventions and embracing one's inner nature, people might build a feeling of wildness inside themselves. He is expressing his yearning to feel the full intensity of existence in its most untamed and unfiltered form, and he is arguing for a fundamental freedom that can only be found in nature. The piece "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau is a celebration of the outdoors and an appeal to re-engage with nature. He believes that spending time in nature may help us find our true selves and live more completely. He regards the wilderness as being fundamental to human well-being.

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Henry David Thoreau valued simplicity in both nature and civilization. He thought that because of how intricate human civilization had grown, people had forgotten who they really were. He spent some time in a cottage on Walden Pond where he could live simply and independently while being completely surrounded by nature. Thoreau felt that a balance between nature and culture was achievable and that this balance was necessary for the pleasure and well-being of all people. Overall, Thoreau valued culture and human ingenuity, and he thought that if we stayed rooted in simplicity and a reverence for nature, we might use these things to improve the world.

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This quote is taken from John Muir's book, where he details his travels through the Californian park's Yosemite Valley: "But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life. Some lean back in majestic response; others, absolutely sheer or nearly so for thousands of feet, advance beyond their companions in thoughtful attitudes, giving welcome to storms and calms alike, seemingly aware, yet heedless, of everything going on about them" (Muir 2). Here, he is implying that the valley's natural beauty is far superior to anything made by people and that the natural world's majesty is unrivaled in its strength and unique art.

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John Muir was a well-known naturalist and environmental philosopher who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In his well-known book, "The Yosemite", he talks about nature as an important piece of your life to form a relationship with. Muir expresses this clearly when he says, “Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean” (Muir 7). The quote here captures Muir's strong love of the natural world and his conviction that time spent in the outdoors has healing properties.

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The following passage is taken from Henry David Thoreau's writing "Walking," in which he promotes spending time outside and re-establishing contact with nature: "The African hunter Cummings tells us that the skin of the eland, as well as that of other antelopes just killed, emits the most delicious perfume of trees and grass. I would have every man so much like a wild antelope, so much a part and parcel of nature, that his very person should thus sweetly advertise our senses of his presence, and remind us of those parts of nature which he most haunts" (Thoreau 5). Thoreau expresses here that he views nature as a source of inspiration and beauty, and he thinks that by strengthening our bonds with it, we may both live better lives and get a better knowledge of the world.

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In Thoreau's writing "Walking", he describes his love for the wilderness and the true importance of experiencing it as a human. He states, "Give me a wildness whose glance no civilization can endure,-- as if we lived on the marrow of koodoos devoured raw" (Thoreau 5). This quote implies that he desires something that is beyond the bounds of what human society's institutions and rules can control. One would be able to fully experience the koodoo's wildness and vigor by eating the marrow uncooked, free from society. He is expressing a desire to escape the confines of civilization and to engage in an unadulterated, unfiltered experience.

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Saw Mill in Yosemite Valley -constructed by John Muir

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John Muir contended that in order to promote conservation, we must preserve the natural areas of our nation. As a project, he helped in the creation of Yosemite Park. He also thought that via relationships, people may have a positive effect on the environment. Muir loved to think of nature as a form of earthly heaven and as a highly sacred setting. He heavily supported venturing out into the wilderness to allow yourself to be free. In his book, he speaks upon nature being an outlet, and a as a strategy to recharge the mind and body. Through these thoughts, the true distinctions between nature and culture become clear with it's crucial elements it provides that humans depend on.

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Henry David Thoreau held the view that people are an integral part of nature. He speaks on this in his book when he states that, "I wish to speak a word for nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civil, --to regard man as an inhabitant, or a part an parcel of nature, rather than a member of society." (Thoreau 1). Thoreau believed himself to be closer to nature than society and enjoyed the time he spent surrounded by it. He valued being a part of the world around us physically, spiritually, and mentally.

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"High Country Wilderness" -Thomas Kinkade

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Henry David Thoreau and John Muir both considered the wilderness as a precisely defined region that was totally cut off from society and where humans were able to discover the physical and intellectual distinctions between nature and culture.