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？
从地球上出现人类开始，人与自然之间的亲密关系就随之诞生，而且被不断地发扬光大，这种关系每一世纪都比以前变得更为明智而深远。所以，我们求助于自然，并把自然视为人类最年长和最有影响力的老师。从某一个观点来看，自然曾是我们的监工，现在却成为我们的奴仆。但从另一个观点来看，自然一直是我们最忠实的朋友、教导者和启发者。这种和谐紧密的关系，如果仅仅是少数人的特权，而大多数人并不能享有，那便会在人们心目中引发一种神秘感和情趣。但是事实上，这种亲密关系是被天下所有的人共享的，这就使那种和谐紧密的关系失去神秘感和情趣。对于少数人来说，这种关系在每个时代都充满了奇妙和美好；对于多数人来说，这种关系只是理所当然的一件事。