Marjory Stoneman Douglas, born in 1890, was a pivotal figure in Everglades conservation, dubbed the “Guardian of the Glades”.
She shifted public perception of the wetlands with her 1947 best-seller “Everglades: River of Grass”.
Douglas was also an advocate for women’s and civil rights. As an assistant editor at the Miami Herald, she championed environmental causes.
In 1969, she founded “Friends of the Everglades” to battle projects damaging the area. Besides her conservation endeavors, Douglas was an acclaimed writer and received the
Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her efforts immortalized her as an emblem of Everglades preservation. She died in 1998.
I have made a list of the best quotes by Marjory Stoneman Douglas below.
Best Marjory Stoneman Douglas Quotes
I’ll talk about the Everglades at the drop of a hat. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
I’m just a tough old woman. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
You have to stand up for some things in this world. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Conservation is now a dead word. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Pigheaded covers a multitude of virtues – as well as sins. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
You can’t conserve what you haven’t got. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
They are unique in the simplicity, the diversity, the related harmony of the forms of life that they enclose. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
No one is satisfied with their life’s work. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
I believe that life should be lived so vividly and so intensely that thoughts of another life, or of a longer life, are not necessary. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
I take advantage of every thing I can – age, hair, disability – because my cause is just. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Famous Marjory Stoneman Douglas Quotes
There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
To be a friend of the Everglades is not necessarily to spend time wandering around out there. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
The miracle of the light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slow-moving below, the grass and water that is the meaning and the central fact of the Everglades of Florida. It is a river of grass. ~ Marjorie Stoneman Douglas.
Child welfare ought really to cover all sorts of topics, such as better water and sanitation and good roads, and clean streets and public parks and playgrounds. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
I feel greatly at fault in not having made a loud public protest about Belle Glade before this. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
The wealth of south Florida, but even more important, the meaning and significance of south Florida lies in the black muck of the Everglades and the inevitable development of this country to be the great tropic agricultural center of the world. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Top Marjory Stoneman Douglas Quotes
All we need, really, is a change from a near frigid to a tropical attitude of mind. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
It’s a little bit late in the day for men to object that women are getting outside their proper sphere. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
There is always the need to carry on. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
The miracle of light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slowly moving, the grass and water that is the meaning and the central fact of the Everglades. It is a river of grass. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
The hardest thing is to tell the truth about oneself. One doesn’t like to remember unpleasant details, but forgetting them makes one’s life seem disorganized. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Popular Marjory Stoneman Douglas Quotes
No matter how poor my eyes are I can still talk. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Whoever wants me to talk, I’ll come over and tell them about the necessity of preserving the Everglades. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Since 1972, I’ve been going around making speeches on the Everglades. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Sometimes, I tell them more than they wanted to know. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
I wanted to go to a good college, and my mind was set on Wellesley. ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
So these were the 27 top Marjory Stoneman Douglas quotes and sayings.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Sharon Salzberg quotes and Judith Butler quotes.
Short Biography of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Marjory Stoneman Douglas, born in 1890, was a trailblazing journalist and environmentalist, best known for her passionate defense of the Florida Everglades.
Her journey began in Minneapolis, moving through a tumultuous childhood marked by her parents’ separation and her mother’s mental health struggles.
Marjory’s love for reading and writing emerged early, guiding her through hardships and leading to her prolific career in journalism and literature.
| Full Name | Marjory Stoneman Douglas |
| Born | April 7, 1890, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 1998 (aged 108), Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupations | Journalist, Writer, Activist |
| Known for | Everglades conservation advocacy |
| Spouse | Kenneth Douglas (m. 1914; div. 1915) |
Her pivotal work, “The Everglades: River of Grass,” redefined the Everglades’ value, likening its impact to Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.”
Despite personal challenges, including a brief, troubled marriage, Marjory’s advocacy for women’s suffrage, civil rights, and environmental conservation left an indelible mark.
Her enduring efforts for the Everglades’ preservation, earning her the title “Grande Dame of the Everglades” and several accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, highlight her legacy as a formidable force in American environmentalism.
Quick Facts about Marjory Stoneman Douglas
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas was born on April 7, 1890, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- She was an only child of a concert violinist mother and a father who became a Miami newspaper publisher.
- Douglas was deeply influenced by reading and nature from an early age.
- She moved to Miami in 1915, joining her father and becoming involved with The Miami Herald.
- Douglas initially wrote society columns before taking on more serious journalistic endeavors.
- She served in the Red Cross during World War I, after a brief stint in the US Naval Reserve.
- Post-war, she became a notable columnist and assistant editor at The Miami Herald.
- Douglas published her first novel, Road to the Sun, in 1952, among other works.
- She is best known for her environmental activism, especially her work to protect the Everglades.
- Douglas’s book, The Everglades: River of Grass, significantly impacted environmental movements and policy.
- She founded Friends of the Everglades in 1969 at age 79.
- Douglas faced opposition from agricultural and business interests but remained a determined advocate.
- She lived to 108, actively campaigning for environmental causes almost until her death.
- Douglas received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- She was inducted into several halls of fame for her contributions to conservation and literature.
- Despite her age, Douglas continued to influence environmental policy and awareness.
- Douglas’s writing career spanned over seven decades, including fiction and advocacy work.
- Her early life was marked by family instability, but she found solace in reading and writing.
- Douglas’s advocacy for the Everglades began in the 1920s, long before her formal environmental work.
- She played a key role in the establishment of Everglades National Park.
- Douglas’s activism extended to civil rights, women’s suffrage, and urban planning.
- Her work inspired significant environmental restoration projects in Florida.
- Douglas’s legacy includes environmental legislation and increased public awareness.
- She was a vocal critic of pollution and environmental mismanagement by government and industry.
- Douglas’s home in Coconut Grove became a center for environmental activism.
- She was known for her sharp wit and ability to command respect in public discourse.
- Douglas’s personal life was marked by independence and a commitment to social causes.
- She remained an influential figure in Florida’s environmental and literary communities throughout her life.
- Her work has been recognized in educational and cultural institutions, including schools named in her honor.
- Douglas’s impact on environmental conservation and literature continues to be celebrated and studied.
Top Questions about Marjory Stoneman Douglas
A: Marjory Stoneman Douglas was an American journalist, author, and conservationist known for her work in defending the Everglades against development efforts and for her influential book “The Everglades: River of Grass.”
A: Marjory’s most influential work was “The Everglades: River of Grass,” published in 1947. It redefined the Everglades as a vital river ecosystem, contributing significantly to conservation efforts and public awareness.
A: Marjory became actively involved in protecting the Everglades at the age of 79, earning her the nickname “Grande Dame of the Everglades.”
A: Marjory Stoneman Douglas was born on April 7, 1890, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She had a challenging childhood marked by her parents’ separation and her mother’s mental health issues.
A: Marjory’s early experiences, including her love for reading and her family’s struggles, shaped her into a skeptic, dissenter, and ultimately a passionate advocate for social and environmental causes.
A: As a student at Wellesley College, Marjory excelled academically, graduating with a BA in English, and was notably involved in the women’s suffrage movement.
A: Initially writing about society events for The Miami Herald, Marjory’s interests evolved over time, leading her to focus on environmental issues and conservation, particularly the protection of the Everglades.
A: Marjory’s work, especially “The Everglades: River of Grass,” is considered a classic in environmental literature, raising awareness about the importance of preserving natural ecosystems.
A: At the age of 79, Marjory founded Friends of the Everglades, an environmental group dedicated to protecting the Everglades.
A: Marjory’s views evolved from supporting development in South Florida to becoming a staunch advocate for environmental conservation, particularly concerning the Everglades.
A: Marjory was an early advocate for women’s suffrage and civil rights, using her platform as a journalist to promote these causes.
A: Beyond her environmental work, Marjory contributed to the community by supporting the American Civil Liberties Union, the Equal Rights Amendment, and migrant farm workers’ rights, showcasing her broad commitment to social justice.
