Rachel Carson — "The fact that we are so ignorant of the long-term effects of these chemicals is …"

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."

"Are we to stand by while the people of the world are fed into a biological meat grinder? When we poison the air, the water, and the soil, we are poisoning ourselves."

"The public is largely unaware of the true nature of the problem, and that is why I felt compelled to write this book."

"If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible tha…"

"One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, 'What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?'"