The intimacy between man and Nature began with the birth of man on the earth， and becomes each century more intelligent and far-reaching. To Nature， therefore， we turn as to the oldest aim most influential teacher of our race； from one point of view once our task-master， now our servant； from another point of view， our constant friend， instructor and inspirer. The very intimacy of this relation robs it of a certain mystery and richness which it would have for all minds if it were the reward of the few instead of being the privilege of the many. To the few it is， in every age， full of wonder and beauty； to the many it is a matter of course. The heavens shine for all， but they have a changing splendor to those only who see in every midnight sky a majesty of creative energy and resource which no repetition of the spectacle can dim. If the stars shone but once in a thousand years， men would gaze， awe-struck and worshipful， on a vision which is not less but more wonderful because it shines nightly above the whole earth. In like manner， and for the same reason， we become indifferent to that delicately beautiful or sublimely impressive sky scenery which the clouds form and reform， compose and dissipate， a thousand times on a summer day. The mystery， the terror， and the music of the sea； the secret and subduing charm of the woods， so full of healing for the spent mind or the restless spirit； the majesty of the hills， holding in their recesses the secrets of light and atmosphere； the infinite variety of landscape， never imitative or repetitious， but always appealing to the imagination with some fresh and unsuspected loveliness； who feels the full power of these marvelous resources for the enrichment of life， or takes from them all the health， delight， and enrichment they have to bestow？
從地球上出現人類開始，人與自然之間的親密關係就隨之誕生，而且被不斷地發揚光大，這種關係每一世紀都比以前變得更為明智而深遠。所以，我們求助於自然，並把自然視為人類最年長和最有影響力的老師。從某一個觀點來看，自然曾是我們的監工，現在卻成為我們的奴仆。但從另一個觀點來看，自然一直是我們最忠實的朋友、教導者和啟發者。這種和諧緊密的關係，如果僅僅是少數人的特權，而大多數人並不能享有，那便會在人們心目中引發一種神秘感和情趣。但是事實上，這種親密關係是被天下所有的人共享的，這就使那種和諧緊密的關係失去神秘感和情趣。對於少數人來說，這種關係在每個時代都充滿了奇妙和美好；對於多數人來說，這種關係隻是理所當然的一件事。