If an economy is to sustain progress, it must satisfy the…

“If an economy is to sustain progress, it must satisfy the basic principles of ecology. If it does not, it will decline and eventually collapse. There is no middle ground”

Lester R. Brown

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Economic growth must align with ecological limits; ignoring nature leads to systemic failure.

In simple terms: Economy must respect ecology or it collapses.

Key Takeaway

Align policies with ecological reality.

Themes

sustainability economics environment policy

Mood

concerned determined

Type

advisory analytical

When to use this quote

Urban planning
corporate strategy
government regulation
investment decisions

Key Concepts

Ecological economics systems thinking resource limits

Questions to Reflect On

How can businesses profit while staying within ecological limits?
What policies best balance growth and environmental health?

A Different Perspective

Ecological constraints can slow short‑term profit motives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

Basic principles Climate Collapse Decline Ecology Economics Economy Environment Middle ground Principles Progress

More by Lester R. Brown

The challenge is either to build an economy that is sustainable or to stay with our unsustainable economy until it declines. It is not…

Lester R. Brown

A sustainable economy represents nothing less than a higher social order one as concerned with future generations as with our own, and more focused…

Lester R. Brown

We are witnessing the beginning of one of the great tragedies of history. The United States, in a misguided effort to reduce its oil…

Lester R. Brown

The problem with water, though, is that the shortfalls don't show up until the very end. You can go on pumping unsustainably until the…

Lester R. Brown

In Mexico City, Tehran, Kolkata, Bangkok, Shanghai, and hundreds of other cities, the air is no longer safe to breathe. In some cities, the…

Lester R. Brown

We can build an economy that does not destroy its natural support systems, a global community where the basic needs of all the Earth's…

Lester R. Brown

The throwaway economy that has been evolving over the last half-century is an aberration, now itself headed for the junk heap of history.

Lester R. Brown

Among the environmental trends undermining our future are shrinking forests, expanding deserts, falling water tables, collapsing fisheries, disappearing species, and rising temperatures. The temperature…

Lester R. Brown

One way or another, the choice will be made by our generation, but it will affect life on earth for all generations to come

Lester R. Brown

Our numbers expand, but Earth's natural systems do not.

Lester R. Brown

Yet, most of the readily accessible reserves of oil formed over hundreds of millions of years will be consumed within a single generation, spanning…

Lester R. Brown

Our early 21st century civilization is in trouble. We need not go beyond the world food economy to see this. Over the last few…

Lester R. Brown

Children whose developing lungs are particularly vulnerable suffer the most from air pollution. For children, breathing the air in cities with the worst pollution,…

Lester R. Brown

The 20th century was the time when the world turned to use of fossil fuels and the 21st century will be the century of…

Lester R. Brown

The foundation is being laid for the emergence of both wind and solar cells as cornerstones of the new energy economy. World wind generating…

Lester R. Brown

Explore all 45 Lester R. Brown quotes

More Basic principles quotes

One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…

Jimmy Carter

We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…

Martin Schulz

I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…

Helen Keller

“I realized then that if I could teach my children only one or two basic principles, tolerance would be one of them.”

David Elliot Cohen

We can never have too much preparation and training. We must be a strong competitor. We must adhere staunchly to the basic principle that…

Ralph Bunche

[It is a basic principle of a tyrant] to unarm his people of weapons, money and all means whereby they resist his power.

Walter Raleigh

If I do, I say so. That's the only way out of that. If there are three words that need to be used more…

P. J. O'Rourke

Concentration is the key to economic results. No other principle of effectiveness is violated as constantly today as the basic principle of concentration… Our…

Peter Drucker

The basic principle, and the principles of chiropractic which have been developed from it are not new. They are as old as the vertebrae...…

Daniel D. Palmer

I feel like we're between two great possibilities: we're either going to turn things around, and in this generation see the rising sun of…

Alan Keyes

There’s only one basic principle of self-defense- you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.

Bruce Lee

People should find what approach really speaks to them, and then do it. Obviously, better with a good teacher, who can help you on…

Tenzin Palmo

Different regions may require different strategies, as President Bush has noted, but not different basic principles. It's either collective security or selective security.

William Safire