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
If, however, economic ambitions are good servants, they are bad masters
Interpretation
What this quote means
Economic ambitions can be beneficial when controlled, but they can lead to negative consequences when they dominate our lives.
This quote by E. F. Schumacher emphasizes the dual nature of economic ambitions. While they can drive progress and serve beneficial purposes, unchecked ambitions can overtake our priorities and lead to detrimental outcomes, highlighting the importance of maintaining balance and control in our economic pursuits.
Themes
EconomicAmbitionsServantsMastersBalance
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on personal finance, this quote can illustrate the importance of managing one's economic goals.
More from E. F. Schumacher
All quotes βThe substance of man cannot be measured by Gross National Product.
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The printing press is either the greatest blessing or the greatest curse of modern times, sometimes one forgets which it is.
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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.
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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
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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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