Humanity cannot afford to muddle through the rest of the twentieth century; the risks are too great, and the stakes are too high. This may be the last opportunity to choose our own and our descendants’ destiny. Failing to choose or making the wrong choices may lead to catastrophe. But it must never be forgotten that the right choices could lead to a much better world.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of making informed choices for the future to avoid disastrous consequences.
John Holdren's quote reflects the urgency and gravity of decision-making in the context of humanity's future. It asserts that as we navigate through the complexities of the twentieth century, the choices we make now will significantly impact our lives and those of future generations. The notion of either choosing wisely or facing dire outcomes serves as a reminder that our actions have far-reaching implications, and with the potential for both devastation and improvement, the responsibility lies in collective awareness and proactive choices.
In practice
In a graduation speech about the importance of decision-making in life.
Any objective look at what science has to say about climate change ought to be sufficient to persuade reasonable people that the climate is changing and that humans are responsible for a substantial part of that - and that these changes are doing harm and will continue to do more harm unless we start to reduce our emissions.
A fact is like a sack - it won't stand up if it's empty. To make it stand up, first you have to put in it all the reasons and feelings that caused it in the first place.
Laws are like sausages. You sleep far better the less you know about how they are made.
We've all been brought up with the view that religion has some kind of special privileged status. You're not allowed to criticise it.
Death when unmasked shows us a friendly face and is a terror only at a distance.
Remember: the time you feel lonely is the time you most need to be by yourself. Life's cruelest irony.
My mission is to kill time, and time's to kill me in its turn. How comfortable one is among murderers.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.