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And there is no use in saying that if we can invent the…

“And there is no use in saying that if we can invent the nuclear bomb and fly to the moon, we can solve hunger and related problems of land use. Epic feats of engineering require only a few brilliant technicians and a lot of money. But feeding a world of people year to year for a long time requires…” quote by Wendell Berry
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““And there is no use in saying that if we can invent the nuclear bomb and fly to the moon, we can solve hunger and related problems of land use. Epic feats of engineering require only a few brilliant technicians and a lot of money. But feeding a world of people year to year for a long time requires cultures of husbandry fitted to the nature of millions of unique small places—precisely the kind of cultures that industrialism has purposely disvalued, uprooted, and destroyed.””

Wendell Berry

About This Quote

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

Large‑scale engineering feats don’t solve basic human needs; sustainable food production depends on local, culturally rooted agricultural practices.

In simple terms: Technology alone can’t feed everyone; local farming matters.

Key Takeaway

Invest in community‑based agriculture.

Themes

sustainability agriculture culture industrialism food security

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • rural development
  • policy planning
  • community education
  • food aid programs

Key Concepts

local ecology cultural adaptation systems thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can modern policy support small‑scale farmers?
  • What role should tradition play in food security?
A Different Perspective

Industrial solutions often ignore local ecological and cultural contexts.

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