"The fisherman has a harmless, preoccupied look; he is a kind of vagrant, that nothing fears. He blends himself with the trees and the shadows. All his approaches are gentle and indirect. He times himself to the meandering, soliloquizing stream; he addresses himself to it as a lover to his mistress; he woos it and stays with it till he knows its hidden secrets. Where it deepens his purpose deepens; where it is shallow he is indifferent. He knows how to interpret its every glance and dimple; its beauty haunts him for days."

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Source: John Burroughs, Charlotte Zoë Walker (2001). “The Art of Seeing Things: Essays”, p.49, Syracuse University Press

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John Burroughs

Naturalist, Writer

John Burroughs was an American naturalist and essayist known for his writings on nature and simplicity, significantly influencing the conservation movement.

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