Earth Day is April 22nd and this is a special day that reminds us to pay extra attention to the health and well-being of the planet we call home.

What better way to honor our Earth than to start reflecting on inspirational quotes about environmental stewardship and taking action for the great outdoors?

We’ve put together some quotes from renowned thinkers, public figures, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more—Pair these inspiring words with positive intentions this Earth Day and beyond!

45 Inspirational Quotes for Earth Day Reflection & Instagram Captions

Consider reflecting on these quotes while celebrating Mother Earth. You could journal about what these mean to you or share them on social media to remind others to reflect on Earth Day!

This list of quotes can make great Earth Day instagram captions too, if you pair it with a picture of you enjoying nature. If you use these earth day captions be sure to give credit to the person who said it!

“The earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein
“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” – Kahlil Gibran
“Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.” ― Robin Wall Kimmerer,
“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” – Lady Bird Johnson

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.” – Margaret Mead
“The natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” – David Attenborough
“The environment is not just for us, it’s for every living creature on this planet.” – Jane Goodall
"Once we start to act, hope is everywhere. So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, hope will come."- Greta Thunberg

"Sustainability is not just about the environment; it’s about people, too.” – Al Gore

“We must become the change we want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The most sustainable way of life is one that can be maintained over generations and that is based on natural cycles and renewable resources.” – David Suzuki
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” – John Muir
“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” – Lady Bird Johnson

“When you heal the Earth, you heal yourself.” – David Orr

“As we face the challenge of global warming, remember that God gave us minds to solve our problems, not deny them.” – Barack Obama
“Mother Earth is our home and we are her children. We must treat her with love, respect and care so that she can continue to provide us with all of the things we need to survive.” –Linda Hogan
“We belong to the earth, not the other way around; it is the earth that holds us in its embrace and sustains us.” –Gary Snyder
“The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.” – Richard Rogers

“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” – John Lubbock

“I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?” – Robert Redford
“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” –Lady Bird Johnson
“My dream is for people everywhere to have a sense of responsibility and care for the environment so that we protect it and are good stewards of its resources.” – Wangari Maathai

“Sustainable development will require the cooperation of all individuals and organizations, public and private, to conserve resources for future generations.” – United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development
"The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth.” – Chief Seattle
“Sustainability is about balance – achieving a balance between meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” – United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development
“Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. It requires ongoing effort to protect resources for future generations.” – Unknown
“The only way forward is through sustainability: using resources today without depleting them for future generations.” – Joyce M. Bennett
“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.” – Aldo Leopold

“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” – Barbara Ward
“Caring for the environment is not a one-time event or a seasonal responsibility - it’s an ongoing commitment.” – Joyce M. Bennett
“The only way forward is to embrace sustainability and environmental stewardship as part of our shared global culture.” – Ban Ki-moon
“It is in our hands to make of the world a better place for all who live in it.” – Nelson Mandela
“The future of our planet is in our hands and we must make sure that generations to come inherit a sustainable environment.” – Kofi Annan

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." - Lao Tzu

"There's nothing I believe in more strongly than getting young people interested in science and engineering, for a better tomorrow, for all humankind." - Bill Nye
I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use. — Mother Teresa
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."— William Shakespeare
"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money." - Cree Indian Proverb

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.”― Sylvia Plath
“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. - Rachel Carson

“We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of inexhaustible vigor, vast and Titanic features, the sea-coast with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and its decaying trees, the thunder cloud, and the rain which lasts three weeks and produces freshets. We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.” — Henry David Thoreau
“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” — Gaylord Nelson

Happy Earth Day! Let's make every day an Earth Day by taking action to protect our planet and all its inhabitants. Here's to creating a world of faithful stewardship and taking individual responsibility for our actions.

Hopefully these powerful Earth Day Quotes helped you reflect on how wonderful Mother Earth is and how she's worth fighting for. And if you were looking for a quote or a great Instagram caption for your Earth Day Instagram post, I hope you found some great ideas!

More Quotes & Inspiration