Annie Dillard Quotes

It is difficult to undo our own damage, and to recall to our presence that which we have asked to leave.

What is already woven cannot be undone. It will not make the trees grow again for you to bring the building down on our heads.

Teach us the names of what we have destroyed.

Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.

A word once uttered can never be recalled.

Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it's hard to get it back in.

Letting the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back.

There's some bells you can't unring.

Some things you can never get back.

You couldn't unburn the books. You could only buy new ones.

You have to taste the sour urine before you break the jug.

The ocean is tired. It's throwing back at us what we're throwing in there.

Ecology is boring for the same reason that destruction is fun.

The wood was better before I cut it, than after. I did not improve it in any way.

My travels through physics really are the same urges that make me travel through ecology. They are not really different, except that there is an added dimension of seeing ecological destruction and seeing the very life-support system that makes us survive on this planet being destroyed. That makes me do more than just inquire; it compels me to act and to intervene.

The harm done is often difficult to repair.

It takes years to build up, it takes moments to destroy.

You can’t undo something that’s happened; you can’t take back a word that’s already been said out loud.

In the 19th century, we devoted our best minds to exploring nature. In the 20th century, we devoted ourselves to controlling and harnessing it. In the 21st century, we must devote ourselves to restoring it.

Because if we destroy Creation, Creation will destroy us! Never forget this!

The undoing is almost always more difficult than the doing.

What have we done to the world?....... Look what we've done.

Up above, we will defend the life of the trees and the mountains from further devastation. Down below [in the towns], we will spread death and mercy.

You cant put the toothpaste back in the tube.

Ever try to hold a butterfly? It can't be done. You damage them," he said. 'As gentle as you try to be, you take the powder from their wings and they won't ever fly the same. It's kinder to let them go.