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Sustainability is a seemingly laudable goal - it tells us we need to live within our means, whether economic, ecological, or political - but it's insufficient for uncertain times. How can we live within our means when those very means can change, swiftly and unexpectedly, beneath us?
Jamais Cascio
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Sustainability encourages responsible living, but it struggles to account for unpredictable changes.

Jamais Cascio's quote highlights the paradox of sustainability in an unpredictable world. While the idea of living within our means is noble and necessary across various dimensions—economic, ecological, and political—reliance on stability becomes problematic when circumstances shift unexpectedly. This raises critical questions about how to adapt our sustainable practices in response to the dynamic nature of the world around us.

Themes

SustainabilityAdaptationMeansChangeResponsibility

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about climate change, one might say this quote to emphasize the need for adaptable solutions.

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