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
There is no polite way to say that business is destroying the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Business practices can have detrimental effects on the planet, and it's difficult to address this without sounding harsh.
This quote by Paul Hawken highlights the conflict between business interests and environmental sustainability. It underscores the urgent need to acknowledge that many business practices contribute to environmental degradation and social issues, and it suggests that confronting this reality may be uncomfortable or unwelcome in polite company.
Themes
BusinessEnvironmentSustainabilityWorldDestruction
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about corporate responsibility in an environmental conference.
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We can no longer prosper by increasing human productivity. The more we try to do, the more poverty we will create.
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At present we are stealing the future, selling it in the present, and calling it gross domestic product.
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How much harm does a company have to do before we question its right to exist?
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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.
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