One possibility is just to tag along with the fantasists…
““One possibility is just to tag along with the fantasists in government and industry who would have us believe that we can pursue our ideals of affluence, comfort, mobility, and leisure indefinitely. This curious faith is predicated on the notion that we will soon develop unlimited new sources of energy: domestic oil fields, shale oil, gasified coal, nuclear power, solar energy, and so on. This is fantastical cause the basic cause of the energy crisis is not scarcity; it is moral ignorance and weakness of character. We don't know how to use energy, or what to use it for. And we cannot restrain ourselves. Our time is characterized as much by the abuse and waste of human energy as it is by the abuse and waste of fossil fuel energy. Nuclear power, if we are to believe its advocates, is presumably going to be well used by the same mentality that has egregiously devalued and misapplied man- and womanpower. If we had an unlimited supply of solar or wind power, we would use that destructively, too, for the same reasons.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The real energy crisis stems from human moral failings, not resource scarcity; unlimited power would be misused.
In simple terms: Moral choices, not resources, drive energy problems.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate ethical stewardship of energy.
Themes
environment
ethics
energy
human behavior
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
essay
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- corporate responsibility
- public education
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
resource management
sustainability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies foster responsible energy use?
- What values must change to prevent misuse of clean power?
A Different Perspective
Unlimited energy alone cannot solve wasteful habits.