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
Really, the proper study of economics is fulfilment, not consumption... It doesn't even matter if it's a green product or a green house... It's still consumption. What matters in this world is the fulfilment of people's needs and the fulfilment of their aspirations.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The focus of economics should be on fulfilling people's needs rather than on the act of consumption itself.
In this quote, Paul Hawken emphasizes that economics should prioritize the fulfillment of human needs and aspirations rather than merely promoting consumption. He argues that the true measure of economic success lies in how well it addresses what people truly require to lead fulfilling lives, rather than the quantity of goods consumed or whether they are environmentally friendly.
Themes
EconomicsFulfillmentNeedsAspirationsConsumption
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about sustainable living, one might say, 'As Paul Hawken stated, the proper study of economics is fulfillment, not consumption.'
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.
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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.
Paul HawkenRead
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