The machine turns, turns and must keep on turning—for…
““The machine turns, turns and must keep on turning—for ever. It is death if it stands still. A thousand millions scrabbled the crust of the earth. The wheels began to turn. In a hundred and fifty years there were two thousand millions. Stop all the wheels. In a hundred and fifty weeks there are once more only a thousand millions; a thousand thousand thousand men and women have starved to death.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
An allegorical warning that relentless industrial and economic expansion, if unchecked, leads to resource depletion and human suffering.
In simple terms: Unchecked growth harms humanity.
Key Takeaway
Sustainable limits are essential.
Themes
industrialization
resource scarcity
human cost
economic cycles
environmental decay
Mood
cautionary
somber
Type
warning
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- corporate strategy
- environmental activism
- academic research
Key Concepts
overproduction
population pressure
inequality
Practical Applications
- forecasting resource constraints
- designing sustainable growth models
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can balance growth with ecological stewardship?
- How can societies prevent the human toll of overexpansion?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that technological innovation can overcome resource limits, but this often overlooks ecological and social externalities.