Nothing fails like success because we don't learn from it. We learn only from failure.
Kenneth E. BouldingRead
As long as man was small in numbers and limited in technology, he could realistically regard the earth as an infinite reservoir, an infinite source of inputs and an infinite cesspool for outputs. Today we can no longer make this assumption. Earth has become a space ship, not only in our imagination but also in the hard realities of the social, biological, and physical system in which man is enmeshed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the need to recognize the Earth's limited resources due to human growth and technological advancement.
Kenneth E. Boulding suggests that in the past, humanity could view the Earth as an endless source of resources and a dumping ground for waste because of our small population and primitive technologies. However, as the human population has expanded and technology has evolved, this mindset is no longer sustainable. The planet must be seen as a confined space, prompting a need for more responsible stewardship of its resources to ensure survival within our ecological constraints.
Themes
EarthResourcesSustainabilityTechnologyEnvironment
In practice
Example use cases
During Earth Day speeches to emphasize the importance of ecological responsibility.
More from Kenneth E. Boulding
All quotes →Economics has been incurably growth-oriented and addicted to everybody growing richer, even at the cost of exhaustion of resources and pollution of the environment.
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Mathematics brought rigor to Economics. Unfortunately, it also brought mortis.
Kenneth E. BouldingRead
Are we to regard the world of nature simply as a storehouse to be robbed for the immediate benefit of man? ... Does man have any responsibility for the preservation of a decent balance in nature, for the preservation of rare species, or even for the indefinite continuance of his race?
Kenneth E. BouldingRead
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