Skip to content

While expressing gratitude seems innocent enough, it is a revolutionary idea. In a consumer society, contentment is a radical proposition. Recognizing abundance rather than scarcity undermines an economy that thrives by creating unmet desires. Gratitude cultivates an ethic of fullness, but the economy needs emptiness.

— Robin Wall Kimmerer Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

Another quote →

Topics

Gratitude

More quotes by Robin Wall Kimmerer

The teachings tell us that a harvest is made honorable by what you give in return for what you take.

Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

Doing science with awe and humility is a powerful act of reciprocity with the more-than-human world.

Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

Names are the way we humans build relationship, not only with each other but with the living world.

Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

A path scented with sweetgrass leads to a landscape of forgiveness and healing for all who need it.

Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

The truth of our relationship with the soil is written more clearly on the land than in any book.

Braiding Sweetgrass (2013)

All Robin Wall Kimmerer quotes →

You may also like

Praise the bridge that carried you over.

George Colman the Younger The Heir at Law (1797)

Feelings of love and gratitude arise directly and spontaneously in the baby in response to the love and care of his mother.

Melanie Klein

When prosperous the fool trembles for the evil that is to come; in adversity the philosopher smiles for the good that he has had.

Ambrose Bierce

Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people.

Samuel Johnson The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Robin Wall Kimmerer (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.