114 The Nature-Study Idea 



the natural world with the eyes of self-interest 

 — to determine whether plants and animals are 

 "beneficial" or "injurious" to man — has de- 

 veloped a selfish attitude toward nature, and 

 one that is untrue and unreal (pp. 32, 97) . The 

 average man to-day contemplates nature only as 

 it relates to his own gain and enjoyment. 



The satisfaction that we derive from the 

 external world is determined by the attitude in 

 which we consider it. All unconsciously one's 

 habit of mind toward the nature-world is 

 formed. We grow into our opinions and habits 

 of thought without knowing why. It is there- 

 fore well to challenge these opinions now and 

 then, to see that they contain the minimum of 

 error and misdirection. 



The greatest thing in life is the point of view. 

 It determines the current of our lives. 



However competent a person may be in 

 biology or other science, he cannot teach nature- 

 study unless he has a wholesome personal out- 

 look on the world. 



The more perfect the machinery of our lives, 



