In our increasingly digitally interconnected world, it’s essential to go off the grid at times to rediscover the beauty of life outdoors. Whether you’re seeking to learn how to rekindle a connection with nature or just want to form one in the first place, we’ve turned to some legendary figures who’ve devoted their lives to adventures in the wild.
From the late charismatic Australian conservationist Steve Irwin and pioneering oceanographer Jacques Cousteau to the famed climber Alex Honnold and intrepid survivalist Bear Grylls, these remarkable individuals and others have shared their insights about the world around us over the years. Here are just a few of their insights.
1. Steve Irwin, Wildlife Conservationist
“Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable. The most important thing that I’ve found is that you have to start. You have to turn off the computer and get out of the house. We are sitting in front of screens and living in this digital world, but this is the real world out here.”
2. Jacques Cousteau, Explorer and Oceanographer
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
3. Dr. Jane Goodall, Researcher and Conservationist
“I don’t have any idea of who or what God is. But I do believe in some great spiritual power. I feel it particularly when I’m out in nature. It’s just something that’s bigger and stronger than what I am or what anybody is. I feel it. And it’s enough for me.”
4. Alex Honnold, Climber
“There’s a constant tension in climbing, and really all exploration, between pushing yourself into the unknown but trying not to push too far. The best any of us can do is to tread that line carefully.”
5. Bill Nye, the Science Guy
“The longest journey starts but with a single step. When it comes to science education and the natural world, half of what you learn about the cosmos and nature, you learn outside of the classroom.”
6. Bear Grylls, Adventurer and Survival Expert
“Out there in a jungle or on a mountain the fears and concerns we carry in regular society often seem so trivial. There are more important things to focus on. That’s a good thing.”
7. Albert Einstein, Physicist
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
8. John Muir, Naturalist and Conservationist
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”