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
Thus, the forces and value systems that are most threatened by this shift are becoming the most coherent and are rising to the top as minority or plurality powers. But they do not represent either the shift, the change, or the future.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote discusses how threatened systems respond to change by organizing themselves, yet they do not embody the future.
In this quote, Paul Hawken reflects on the dynamics of societal change. He observes that groups or systems that feel threatened by evolving values and trends often become more organized and assertive in their responses. Despite their growing clarity and influence, these groups do not represent the new direction of society or the evolving future, emphasizing the tension between established powers and emerging realities.
Themes
ChangeFutureSocietyPowerValues
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on societal evolution, this quote can highlight the resistance to change.
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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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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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