Gifford Pinchot

“Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals, for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.”

“The rightful use and purpose of our natural resources is to make all the people strong and well, able and wise... with equal opportunity for all and special privilege for none.”

“Unless we practice conservation, those who come after us will have to pay the price of misery, degradation, and failure for the progress and prosperity of our day.”

“The object of our forest policy is not to preserve the forests because they are beautiful... but the making of prosperous homes.”

“There are just two things on this material earth — people and natural resources.”

“A nation deprived of liberty may win it, a nation divided may unite, but a nation whose natural resources are destroyed must inevitably pay the penalty of poverty, degradation, and decay.”

“The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future.”

“The first principle of conservation is development, the use of the natural resources now existing on this continent for the benefit of the people who live here now.”

“Conservation means the wise use of the earth and its resources for the lasting good of men.”

“Without natural resources life itself is impossible. From birth to death, natural resources, transformed for human use, feed, clothe, shelter, and transport us.”

“The earth and its resources belong of right to its people.”

“Publicity is the best cure for most political abuses.”