The common bees will never use their sting upon the queen; if she is to be disposed of, they starve her to death, and the queen herself will sting nothing but royalty, nothing but a rival queen. John Burroughs beecommondeath Change image and share on social
We talk of communing with Nature, but 'tis with ourselves we commune... Nature furnishes the conditions - the solitude - and the soul furnishes the entertainment. John Burroughs communeconditionentertainment Change image and share on social
To learn something new, take the path that you took yesterday. John Burroughs learnpathyesterday Change image and share on social
The homing instinct in birds and animals is one of their most remarkable traits: their strong local attachments and their skill in finding their way back when removed to a distance. It seems at times as if they possessed some extra sense - the home sense - which operates unerringly. John Burroughs animalattachmentback share on social
As life nears its end with me, I find myself meditating more and more upon the mystery of its nature and origin, yet without the least hope that I can find out the ways of the Eternal in this or in any other world. John Burroughs endeternalfind share on social
As with other phases of nature, I have probably loved the rocks more than I have studied them. John Burroughs lovenaturephase Change image and share on social
The life of a swarm of bees is like an active and hazardous campaign of an army: the ranks are being continually depleted and continually recruited. John Burroughs activearmybee Change image and share on social
When Darwin published his conclusion that man was descended from an apelike ancestor who was again descended from a still lower type, most people were shocked by the thought; it was intensely repugnant to their feelings. John Burroughs ancestorapelikeconclusion share on social
Nearly every season, I make the acquaintance of one or more new flowers. It takes years to exhaust the botanical treasures of any one considerable neighborhood, unless one makes a dead set at it, like an herbalist. John Burroughs acquaintancebotanicalconsiderable share on social