50 Earth Day Quotes That'll Inspire You to Take Action

There are plenty of reasons to look forward to spring. I, for one, am especially excited to celebrate warm-weather holidays like Easter , Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo (street-style tacos, FTW!). But in recent years, I realized that I’ve been overlooking one of the most underrated holidays on my calendar: Earth Day , which falls on April 22. It’s a great opportunity to not only celebrate our planet, but also spread awareness and focus our efforts on protecting it. So, to honor this important mission, I’ve gathered 50 Earth Day quotes that'll inspire anyone to join the cause.

The list includes famous sayings from former presidents, funny quips from TV characters and even thoughtful musings from philosophers. So, whether you're a proud conservationist or just looking to teach friends about the importance of caring for the environment, consider sharing these Earth Day quotes.

Inspirational Earth Day Quotes

1. “An understanding of the natural world and what's in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” — David Attenborough

2. “A vibrant, fair, and regenerative future is possible—not when thousands of people do climate justice activism perfectly but when millions of people do the best they can.” — Xiye Bastida

3. “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” — Vincent van Gogh

4. “To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes, you have to pick up other people’s trash.” — Bill Nye

5. “Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” ― Albert Einstein

6. “There is no medicine you can take that has such a direct influence on your health as a walk in a beautiful forest.” — Dr. Qing Li

7. “It looks big, Earth. But there are lots of us on here (7,523,458,567 and counting) so be kind.” — Oliver Jeffers

8. “Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness.” — Eckhart Tolle

9. “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”― Henry David Thoreau

10. “Together we can preserve the forest, securing this immense treasure for the future of all these children.” — Chico Mendes

Funny Earth Day Quotes

11. “The ice caps are melting, Leonard. In the future, swimming won't be optional.” — Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory

12. “Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” — Carl Sagan

13. “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” — Steve Martin

14. “For years, I thought the sun was a monster. I’m here to tell you that it’s not a monster. IT’S NOT A MONSTER!” — Howie, The Benchwarmers

15. “Earth. You don’t have to be crazy to live here, but it helps.” — Ryan Howard, The Office

16. “Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer.” — Dave Barry

17. “Everybody wants to save the Earth; no one wants to help mom do the dishes.” — P.J. O’Rourke

18. “Why pay money for the horror movies? Just go to a street without trees.” — Mehmet Murat İldan

19. “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” — John Muir

20. “The earth laughs in flowers.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thoughtful Earth Day Quotes

21. “The whole world is singing, clicking, grinding, whistling, and thumping...but we've stopped listening.” — Christopher W. Clark

22. “If we build a society based on honoring the earth, we build a society which is sustainable, and has the capacity to support all life forms.” — Winona LaDuke

23. “The truth is we don’t need ten really passionate, committed environmentalists. We need one hundred or one million people who can do a little bit in that field and change things in their domain.” ― Malaika Vaz

24. “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall

25. “When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.” — Alanis Obomsawin

26. “At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now, I realize I am fighting for humanity.” — Chico Mendes

27. “Every day is Earth Day, and I vote we start investing in a secure climate future right now.” — Jackie Speier

28. “Earth Day should encourage us to reflect on what we are doing to make our planet a more sustainable and livable place.” — Scott Peters

29. “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.” — John James Audubon

30. “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

31. “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.” ― Jacques Cousteau

32. “Average people and the average community can change the world. You can do it just based on common sense, determination, persistence and patience.” — Lois Gibbs

33. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead

Short Earth Day Quotes

34. “As cheesy as it sounds, truly every day is Earth Day.” — Ashlan Gorse Cousteau

35. “The Earth is what we all have in common.” — Wendell Berry

36. “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” —John Muir

37. “Time spent among trees is never time wasted.” — Katrina Mayer

38. “Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.” — Lilly Pulitzer

39. “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” — Gary Snyder

40. “He that plants trees loves others beside himself.” — Thomas Fuller

41. “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” — Marshall McLuhan

42. “In nature’s economy the currency is not money, it is life.” — Vandana Shiva

43. “The earth has music for those who listen.” — William Shakespeare

44. “Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” — John Ruskin

Famous Earth Day Quotes

45. “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it.” — Barack Obama

46. “Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries.” — Jimmy Carter

47. “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” — Mahatma Gandhi

48. “The time to answer the greatest challenge of our existence on this planet is now. You can make history or be vilified by it.” ― Leonardo DiCaprio

49. “The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” — Gaylord Nelson

50. “I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.” — Mother Teresa

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