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We must recognize that the goal of a cleaner environment…

“We must recognize that the goal of a cleaner environment will not be achieved by rhetoric or moral dedication alone. It will not be cheap or easy and the costs will have to be borne by each citizen, consumer and taxpayer. How clean is clean enough can only be answered in terms of how much we are…” quote by Richard M. Nixon
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“We must recognize that the goal of a cleaner environment will not be achieved by rhetoric or moral dedication alone. It will not be cheap or easy and the costs will have to be borne by each citizen, consumer and taxpayer. How clean is clean enough can only be answered in terms of how much we are willing to pay and how soon we seek success... It is simplistic to seek ecological perfection at the cost of bankrupting the very tax-paying enterprises which must pay for the social advances we seek.”

Richard M. Nixon

About This Quote

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

Cleaner environments require costly, collective effort, not just idealistic rhetoric.

In simple terms: Cleanliness costs money and cooperation.

Key Takeaway

Invest and and share responsibility.

Themes

environment economics policy

Mood

serious concerned

Type

policy analytical

When to use this quote

  • government budgeting
  • corporate sustainability programs
  • citizen lifestyle changes

Key Concepts

sustainability public finance collective action

Questions to Reflect On

  • Are you willing to pay for greener living?
  • What compromises are acceptable?
A Different Perspective

Idealism without funding fails.

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