John Audubon Quotations

What! Have I come here to mimic nature in her grandest enterprise - to add my caricature of one of the wonders of the world to those which I see here? No - I give up the idea as a vain attempt.

When, for the first time... I left my father, and all the dear friends of my youth, to cross the great ocean... my heart sunk within me... The lingering hours were spent in deep sorrow... My affections were with those I had left behind, and the world seemed to me a great wilderness.

My drawings of Owls and other birds of similar plumage were much improved. I have continued the style ever since.

My father... sailed as a sea captain to the West Indies, where in 1785 I found light and life in the New World.

Hundreds of anecdotes I could relate. It may happen that the pages I am now scribbling over, may hereafter be published.

I rise long before day and work till nightfall, when I take a walk and go to bed.

My plan is to publish one Number at my own expense and risk, and travel with it under my arm-and beg my way.

My mother had several beautiful parrots and some monkeys; one of the latter was a full-grown male of a very large species.

Who is the stranger... that can form an adequate conception of the extent of its primeval woods-of the glory of those columnar trunks, that for centuries have waved in the breeze?

Well, I heard he liked to eat old wives' eggs.

Finally I paid every bill. My plantation in Pennsylvania had been sold and nothing was left to me but my humble talents.

To my Lucy I now offer myself with my stock, wares and chattels and all the devotedness of heart attached to such an enthusiastic being as I am.

The Purchasing of Too Many goods sold on credit of course Lost, reduced us-Divided us.

This Place saw My best days, My Happiest, My Wife having blessed me with Your Brother Woodhouse... I Calculated, to Live and died in Comfort, Our Business Was good of course We agreed.

I have now 42 Dollars, health, and as much anxiety to pursue My Plans of Accomplishing My collection as Ever I had and Hope God Will Grant Me the same Powers to proceed.

I must put myself in a train of doing... and thereby keep the machine in motion.

How strangely our Bark is tossed-Poor as Job yesterday-rich as Croesus Tomorrow!-and who could not wish to live to enjoy this Life of pleasurable anxiety? Not I believe me.

How strangely Nature has provided them with the means of securing their eggs and young from their arch-enemy Man.

I do anything for money now a days.