If only the bird with the loveliest song sang, the forest would be a lonely place. John James Audubon More Quotes by John James Audubon More Quotes From John James Audubon Hunting, fishing, drawing, and music occupied my every moment. Cares I knew not, and cared naught about them. John James Audubon hunting not-caring fishing When the bird and the book disagree, believe the bird. John James Audubon bird believe book A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children. John James Audubon nature father children Never give up listening to the sounds of birds. John James Audubon giving-up listening bird In my deepest troubles, I frequently would wrench myself from the persons around me and retire to some secluded part of our noble forests. John James Audubon noble trouble forests During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks. John James Audubon tendencies walks years I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could. John James Audubon listening song bird The worse my drawings were, the more beautiful did the originals appear. John James Audubon drawing originals beautiful Look at that mallard as he floats on the lake; see his elevated head glittering with emerald green, his amber eyes glancing in the light! Even at this distance, he has marked you, and suspects that you bear no goodwill towards him, for he sees that you have a gun, and he has many a time been frightened by its report, or that of some other. The wary bird draws his feet under his body, springs upon then, opens his wings, and with loud quacks bids you farewell. John James Audubon distance farewell spring As I grew up I was fervently desirous of becoming acquainted with Nature. John James Audubon glowing nature science I can scarcely manage to scribble a tolerable English letter. I know that I am not a scholar, but meantime I am aware that no man living knows better than I do the habits of our birds. John James Audubon letters bird men The best recommendation I can have is my own talents, and the fruits of my own labors, and what others will not do for me, I will try and do for myself. John James Audubon fruit talent trying There is but one kind of love; God is love, and all his creatures derive theirs from his; only it is modified by the different degrees of intelligence in different beings and creatures. John James Audubon degrees different kind My heart swelled with uncontrollable delight. John James Audubon delight my-heart heart [Drawing should be] a journey of pleasure. Each step must present to the travellers' view objects that are eminently interesting, varied in their appearances, and attracting to such a degree as to excite in each individual thus happily employed the desire of knowing all respecting all he sees. John James Audubon drawing journey views Great men show politeness in a particular way; a smile suffices to assure you that you are welcome, and keep about their avocations as if you were a member of the family. John James Audubon welcome men way A Mocking Bird regularly resorts to the south angle of a chimney top and salutes us with sweetest notes from the rising of the moon until about midnight. John James Audubon moon bird art The fact is I am growing old too fast, alas! I feel it, and yet work I will, and may God grant me life to see the last plate of my mammoth work finished. John James Audubon growing lasts may Mathematics was hard, dull work, I thought; geography pleased me more. For my other studies, as well as for dancing, I was quite enthusiastic. John James Audubon mathematics dancing dull My drawings at first were made altogether in watercolors, but they wanted softness and a great deal of finish. John James Audubon drawing made firsts
