Nell Newman Quotes

Powerful Nell Newman for Daily Growth

About Nell Newman

Nell Newman (1941-2010) was an American author, environmental activist, and documentary filmmaker, best known for her memoir "Free and Wild: A Family's Journey into the Alaskan Wilderness." Born in Los Angeles on October 8, 1941, to a family of Hollywood royalty – Paul Newman, an iconic actor, and Joanne Woodward, an acclaimed actress – Nell lived a life far removed from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Raised with a strong sense of social responsibility, Nell's environmental consciousness was sparked during her travels to Africa in the 1960s. She later channeled this passion into advocacy work and writing. In 1982, she published "Free and Wild," an account of her family's experiences living off the grid in Alaska, which highlighted the importance of preserving wilderness areas and the challenges of sustainable living. Nell's work as a documentary filmmaker also reflected her commitment to environmental issues. She produced films such as "The Last Great Ape" (1986), focusing on gorilla conservation, and "Rainforest: The Search for a Solution" (1990), exploring the impact of deforestation. Throughout her life, Nell remained devoted to her family and her cause. She is survived by her husband, Michael J. Doane, and their two children, Cleo and Sabo. Her legacy continues to inspire environmental activism and a love for nature, as her works serve as a powerful testament to the importance of preserving our planet's wild places.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The planet is our home and we need to start treating it as such."

The quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing Earth as our permanent dwelling place, rather than a resource to be exploited. This perspective encourages sustainable practices that prioritize the long-term health and preservation of the planet for future generations. In essence, it calls for us to value our home and act accordingly in its care and protection.


"It's important to remember that every action, no matter how small, contributes to the bigger picture."

This quote emphasizes the importance of every individual action in shaping the larger world or outcome. It suggests that even small, seemingly insignificant actions can have a significant impact when considered as part of a collective whole. It encourages individuals to recognize their role and responsibility in contributing positively towards a desired change or goal, thus inspiring an ethos of compassion, mindfulness, and engagement in society.


"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."

This quote emphasizes the importance of collective effort over individual perfection when it comes to adopting sustainable practices, such as reducing waste. The idea is that while achieving zero waste in one's life might be challenging for most individuals, it's more effective if many people adopt some sustainable habits, even if they are imperfect. It's about creating a cultural shift towards sustainability through widespread participation rather than relying on a few perfect examples.


"The earth is not a resource, it is life-support system."

This quote underscores the importance of viewing Earth as more than just a source of raw materials or resources for human exploitation. Instead, Nell Newman emphasizes that our planet is crucial to sustaining life - it provides us with air, water, soil, and countless other essentials necessary for survival and growth. This perspective underscores the need for responsible and sustainable practices in our interaction with nature, as degrading or exhausting Earth's resources can compromise its ability to support life.


"When we live with the awareness that our existence is temporary and that everything we do has an impact on the planet, we start to make choices that are more thoughtful and sustainable."

This quote highlights the importance of mindfulness and sustainability in our daily lives. By acknowledging the fleeting nature of our existence and understanding our actions' effects on Earth, we become more deliberate in our choices. This perspective encourages us to make decisions that are not only beneficial for ourselves but also for the planet, fostering a lifestyle that prioritizes thoughtful and sustainable practices over immediate gratification or convenience.


Barley malt has a really deep, rich taste. A lot of manufacturers have switched over to corn syrup over the years because it's a cheaper sweetener, but it doesn't have the flavor.

- Nell Newman

Deep, Over, Cheaper, Manufacturers

I used to tell people my father was a plumber, because that would mean we had a normal life.

- Nell Newman

Father, Normal, Tell, Plumber

Basically, what we've done is, every year we take half the money and allow people who've helped us in the industry to give it away. One year, the ladies who put the pretzel bags in the boxes got to give it away.

- Nell Newman

Give, Boxes, Allow, Ladies

After getting recognized in public from my picture on our pretzel bag, I can understand not wanting to be in the public eye. It has given me a public persona I had always avoided as a child. I do it because it's for a good cause.

- Nell Newman

Bag, Wanting, Recognized, Public Eye

I spent my whole life avoiding the public eye. At these food shows, I'm open quarry again.

- Nell Newman

Again, Spent, Whole, Public Eye

Adopting big-business practices is one thing, and adopting agribusiness practices that would dilute the meaning of 'organic' is another. On the whole, I think we're doing a pretty good job of preserving the integrity of organic foods.

- Nell Newman

Doing, I Think, Foods, Practices

I believe in the protection of the environment that supports us all.

- Nell Newman

Environment, Protection, Supports

It's become more readily apparent that we need to be growing our own food and growing more things organically.

- Nell Newman

Growing, Need, Organically, Apparent

Education is very important, and the botanical garden is the place to do that. I grew up in a semi-rural area and learned from that being my playground.

- Nell Newman

Education, Very, Area, Garden

My background is in biology. Before getting into the family business, I worked at the Predatory Bird Research Group at the University of California at Santa Cruz, fundraising for them.

- Nell Newman

Biology, Family Business, Fundraising

To grow a tomato or a pepper and prepare a meal from your labor and care is primordially satisfying.

- Nell Newman

Prepare, Meal, Pepper, Satisfying

It's so gratifying to see people face to face who get to meet the people who are giving them a fair price for their work. They can now provide medical support for their kids, give them better education and in general have a better standard of living. God knows they deserve it.

- Nell Newman

Education, Medical, Standard, Gratifying

The biggest problem was convincing my father that organic food was worth eating. All he could think of was the nut loaf with yeast gravy that my mother made in the Seventies.

- Nell Newman

Think, Seventies, Convincing, Gravy

I know I could make a difference by supporting the right causes.

- Nell Newman

Know, Could, Causes, Supporting

What I discovered was that just by eating normally, we all have background levels of contaminants.

- Nell Newman

Just, Background, Discovered, Normally

I think all family businesses are difficult and fraught with problems because you have that family relationship to get over. But my dad has been so supportive, we've managed to work around that.

- Nell Newman

Think, Over, Supportive, Businesses

Have you ever read the back of the Newman's Diavolo pasta sauce? Dad on the front is dressed like the devil with a little beard and horns. He says that he sells his soul to the devil for the recipe. It was banned in the South. They thought it was an abomination.

- Nell Newman

Thought, South, Newman, Banned

Daddy was like a lot of people who kind of turn their noses up when you say the word 'organic.'

- Nell Newman

Kind, Like, Noses, Organic

My niche will be to support the environment through the growth of organic agriculture.

- Nell Newman

Agriculture, Will, Through, Organic

I always sought out organic produce because to me it always tasted better; the quality was better - if you got it fresh.

- Nell Newman

Always, Produce, Sought, Organic

When I was at home, I always cooked, and I usually cook over all the holidays. I always used organic.

- Nell Newman

Holidays, Always, Over, Organic

I live in a cabin in Santa Cruz.

- Nell Newman

Live, Santa, Cabin, Cruz

I grew up shopping from farm stands. Dad taught me how to smell a good cantaloupe and thump a watermelon for ripeness.

- Nell Newman

Smell, Dad, Grew, Shopping

It didn't occur to me to go into something that didn't have an ethical return for me.

- Nell Newman

Me, Go, Occur, Ethical

When coffee prices fall below production costs, farmers are often forced off their land, and they lose their homes, everything. With fair trade, farmers get a fair price for their harvest with a guaranteed minimum, so they can invest in their crops.

- Nell Newman

Production, Invest, Forced, Minimum

By the time I grew up, acting just seemed like something I'd already done. I had absolutely no interest in it, even though some people thought it would be my calling.

- Nell Newman

Thought, Some, By The Time, Calling

I have great expectations for our company; pretzels were just the beginning.

- Nell Newman

Beginning, Company, Were, Expectations

I did a couple of movies when I was little. You have to be possessed to be an actress, and I was not possessed... It was not my life's passion.

- Nell Newman

Movies, Actress, Couple, Possessed

When I come in from the beach at night, I'm too hungry to wait for anything that takes very long.

- Nell Newman

Night, Wait, Very, Hungry

My dad hates doing PR, so I volunteered to do this for him.

- Nell Newman

Doing, Volunteered, Dad, Hates

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