Whether in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the barrios of Caracas, the ghettos of Newark, the mining towns of West Virginia, or the tarpaper villages of Gallup, Flagstaff, and Shiprock, it's the same the world over—one big wretched family sequestered in sullen desperation, pawed over by social workers, kicked around by the cops, and prayed over by the missionaries.

About Edward Abbey

Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) was an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by...

More quotations from Edward Abbey

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.

—Edward Abbey

Such things… as the grasp of a child's hand in your own, the flavor of an apple, the embrace of a friend or a lover, the silk of a girl's thigh, the sunlight on rock and leaves, the feel of music, the bark of a tree, the abrasion of granite and sand, the plunge of clear water into a pool, the face of the wind—what else is there? What else do we need?

—Edward Abbey

Nobody seems more obsessed by diet than our anti-materialistic, otherworldly, New Age spiritual types. But if the material world is merely illusion, an honest guru should be as content with Budweiser and bratwurst as with raw carrot juice, tofu, and seaweed slime.

—Edward Abbey

One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.

—Edward Abbey

mistakes groups stupidity teams

I have written much about many good places. But the best places of all, I have never mentioned.

—Edward Abbey

History

7 Jun 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

Whether in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the barrios of Caracas, the ghettos of Newark, the mining towns of West Virginia, or the tarpaper villages of Gallup, Flagstaff, and Shiprock, it's the same the world over — one big wretched family sequestered in sullen desperation, pawed over by social workers, kicked around by the cops, and prayed over by the missionaries.