The real problems of our planet are not economic or technical, they are philosophical. The philosophy of unbridled materialism is being challenged by events.
E. F. SchumacherRead
The generosity of the Earth allows us to feed all mankind; we know enough about ecology to keep the Earth a healthy place; there is enough room on the Earth, and there are enough materials, so that everybody can have adequate shelter; we are quite competent enough to produce sufficient supplies of necessities so that no one need live in misery.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The Earth has the resources to support all human needs if used wisely.
E. F. Schumacher emphasizes the abundance of Earth's resources and our capacity to use them efficiently to ensure that every person can live a dignified life. The quote highlights the potential for ecological knowledge and human ingenuity to create a world where nobody has to suffer from lack, calling for a responsible and generous approach to how we treat our planet and its resources.
Themes
EarthGenerosityEcologyResourcesShelterNecessities
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on environmental conservation, one might quote Schumacher to emphasize the importance of sustainability.
More from E. F. Schumacher
All quotes →The substance of man cannot be measured by Gross National Product.
E. F. SchumacherRead
The printing press is either the greatest blessing or the greatest curse of modern times, sometimes one forgets which it is.
E. F. SchumacherRead
By means of trees, wildlife could be conserved, pollution decreased, and the beauty of our landscapes enhanced. This is the way, or at least one of the ways, to spiritual, moral, and cultural regeneration.
E. F. SchumacherRead
We still have to learn how to live peacefully, not only with our fellow men but also with nature and, above all, with those Higher Powers which have made nature and have made us; for, assuredly, we have not come about by accident and certainly have not made ourselves
E. F. SchumacherRead
The heart of the matter, as I see it, is the stark fact that world poverty is primarily a problem of two million villages, and thus a problem of two thousand million villagers.
E. F. SchumacherRead
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The world is beautiful, but has a disease called man.
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