Dillard believes that spending time in nature, even today, can allow humans to open up their minds and connect with the world that surrounds them. Twain believes that the human race falls short of its ideals of having high regards of self-improvement and advancement, and that animals are much further ahead than humans. Although each of the authors incorporate slightly different approaches to the subject, it is evident that they both can agree that humans can learn so much from animals if they just take the time to do so. Both pieces were written several decades ago, but one thing is again true for these pieces: their ideas still apply today. These authors would still believe that it is very beneficial to take the time to admire nature and hold it with high regards, and this will be true for the remainder of time. They would still believe that by spending time in nature and with animals, the human race can make great leaps toward