The land is not valuable for where the bear lives, but for where the chicken scratches.
The land is not valuable for where the bear lives, but for where the chicken scratches.
This quote highlights the contrasting values of different types of land use and the species that inhabit them. The phrase suggests that while the bear, a wild and powerful animal, represents the untamed wilderness, it is the chicken—symbolizing domestication and agriculture—that signifies productive land. Chickens "scratch" for food, indicating cultivation and utility. Thus, the land's real value lies not in its wilderness or natural beauty but in its potential for agriculture and human sustenance. This underscores a broader theme of prioritizing development and resource utilization over conservation of natural habitats.
Quote By: Wendell Berry