We are now heading down a centuries-long path toward increasing the productivity of our natural capital - the resource systems upon which we depend to live - instead of our human capital.
Paul HawkenRead
his planet came with a set of instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat have been broken.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how humanity has neglected the essential environmental guidelines for sustaining our planet.
Paul Hawken's quote reflects the idea that Earth came with inherent guidelines for living sustainably, which we have ignored or forgotten. It emphasizes the critical rules for environmental stewardship—such as not polluting our resources and maintaining balance—that have been violated, leading to consequences for our planet's health and our future.
Themes
EnvironmentSustainabilityPollutionNaturePlanetInstructions
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about climate change, a speaker might use this quote to illustrate the necessity of respecting our environment.
More from Paul Hawken
All quotes →Inspiration is not garnered from the litanies of what may befall us; it resides in humanity's willingness to restore, redress, reform, rebuild, recover, reimagine, and reconsider.
Paul HawkenRead
We can no longer prosper by increasing human productivity. The more we try to do, the more poverty we will create.
Paul HawkenRead
At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product.
Paul HawkenRead
How much harm does a company have to do before we question its right to exist?
Paul HawkenRead
We have the capacity to create a remarkably different economy: one that can restore ecosystems and protect the environment while bringing forth innovation, prosperity, meaningful work, and true security.
Paul HawkenRead
Similar quotes
The moon, like a flower in heaven's high bower, with silent delight sits and smiles on the night.
William BlakeRead
The grass as bristly and stout as chives and me wondering when the ground will break and me wondering how anything fragile survives
Anne SextonRead
When you drink in nature through your senses, you deepen your awareness of the great silent intelligence flowing through all things. You nourish your mind, body, and spirit as you connect to the divine love of Being.
Deepak ChopraRead
Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone, everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.
Sylvia EarleRead
I saw for the first time the earth's shape. I could easily see the shores of continents, islands, great rivers, folds of the terrain, large bodies of water. The horizon is dark blue, smoothly turning to black. . . the feelings which filled me I can express with one word-joy.
Yuri GagarinRead
Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are.
RumiRead