Quote by Aldo Leopold
One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.
Summary
This quote by Aldo Leopold highlights the difficult reality faced by those who possess an ecological education. It suggests that being aware of ecological issues creates a sense of personal isolation and empathy towards the wounds inflicted upon the environment. While the damage may remain invisible to the general public, an ecologist is tasked with deciding between detachment and denying the implications of their knowledge, or assuming the role of a doctor who recognizes the signs of a deteriorating ecosystem in a society that prefers to remain blind to it.
By Aldo Leopold