Joseph Christmas Ives was the first person to really explore the Grand Canyon. While he noted its eye-boggling immensity, he also wrote:
“The region is, of course, altogether valueless … Ours has been the first, and will doubtless be the last, party of whites to visit this profitless locality. It seems intended by nature that the Colorado river, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed.” (Source: National Park Service)
Oh the irony.
But also a pretty resounding lesson:
Don’t let just one person’s opinion define you. Never forget that you have value. Just because one person doesn’t see it, doesn’t mean others won’t. (In the case of the Grand Canyon, nearly 6 million people a year.)
