---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I have said for many years throughout…"
description: "\"As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg"
---

#  As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're…

![“As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change.” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg)

> “As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change.”

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

## About This Quote

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

He highlights how reliance on foreign oil and destructive energy practices threaten humanity, calling for a shift away from fossil fuels.

**In simple terms:** Energy choices harm the planet; change is needed.

Key Takeaway

Shift to sustainable energy now.

Themes

environment energy future

Mood

concerned hopeful

Type

environmental motivational

When to use this quote

- energy policy
- personal consumption
- government regulation

Key Concepts

climate change energy dependency

Questions to Reflect On

- What steps can you take to reduce fossil fuel use?
- How can societies balance energy needs with climate health?

A Different Perspective

Transition costs and political resistance can slow change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Borrowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowing/) [Borrowing money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowing-money/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Human civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-civilization/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Persian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persian/) [Persian gulf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persian-gulf/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Unless we stop dumping 70 million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every 24 hours, which we are doing right now ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/unless-we-stop-dumping-70-million-tons-of-global-warming-pollution/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [ The climate, financial and national security crises are all connected. They share the same cause: Our \[the USA's\] absurd dependency on foreign oil. As… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-financial-and-national-security-crises-are-all-connected/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [The past should be left in the past, otherwise it can destroy your future. Live life for what tomorrow has to offer, not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-should-be-left-in-the-past-otherwise-it-can-destroy-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No matter what the past has dealt you, don't let it destroy your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/no-matter-what-the-past-has-dealt-you-don-t-let-it-destroy-your-future/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [We cant change whats happened in our past, so before we let it destroy our future we must learn to live with it !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-cchan/we-cant-change-whats-happened-in-our-past-so-before-we-let-it-destroy/)

[AaRon CcHan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-cchan/)

> [Leave the past behind, or it can destroy your future. Live life for what tomorrow has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/leave-the-past-behind-or-it-can-destroy-your-future-live-life-for/)

[Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/)

> [The PAST ruins the PRESENT to destroy the FUTURE. Make today a day to look back and SMILE ¤](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-ruins-the-present-to-destroy-the-future-make-today-a-day-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“If you don't leave your past in the past, it'll destroy your future. You've got to live for what today's offering, not for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/if-you-don-t-leave-your-past-in-the-past-it-ll-destroy-your-future/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [“The past ruins the present to destroy the future. Take charge of the NOW.-RVM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/the-past-ruins-the-present-to-destroy-the-future-take-charge-of-the-2/)

RVM

> [The past ruins the present to destroy the future. Take charge of the NOW.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-past-ruins-the-present-to-destroy-the-future-take-charge-of-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Too much love will destroy your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kc/too-much-love-will-destroy-your-future/)

KC

> [“Living in the mistakes of your past isn't going to do anything but destroy your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-donovan/living-in-the-mistakes-of-your-past-isn-t-going-to-do-anything-but/)

[Rebecca Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-donovan/)

> [Being popular is the most important thing in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/being-popular-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [Borrowing money on what's called 'easy terms,' is a one-way ticket to the Poor House. If you think it ain't a Sucker Game, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/borrowing-money-on-what-s-called-easy-terms-is-a-one-way-ticket-to/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

## More by Al Gore

> [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [Mother Nature does not do bailouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/mother-nature-does-not-do-bailouts/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [You know there's an old african proverb that i made up: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-know-there-s-an-old-african-proverb-that-i-made-up-if-you-want-to/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [One tragic example of the loss of forests and then water is found in Ethiopia. The amount of its forested land has decreased from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/one-tragic-example-of-the-loss-of-forests-and-then-water-is-found-in/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [The ten hottest years in the atmospheric record, going back only 160 years, have been in the last eleven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-ten-hottest-years-in-the-atmospheric-record-going-back-only-160/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/when-you-talk-about-president-trump-the-cable-networks-turned-over-so/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [There are many who would much prefer that the word 'climate' never be mentioned and that the issue be eliminated from our national conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-many-who-would-much-prefer-that-the-word-climate-never-be/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [As many know, the Chinese expression for "crisis" consists of two characters side by side. The first is the symbol for "danger," the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-many-know-the-chinese-expression-for-crisis-consists-of-two/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-george-w-bush-has-a-warm-engaging-personality-but-you-know/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

[Explore all 447 Al Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

## More Borrowing quotes

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/)

[John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/)

> [By taking out a loan, I am committing myself to years of interest repayments, and therefore to years of wage slavery. And the UK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/by-taking-out-a-loan-i-am-committing-myself-to-years-of-interest/)

[Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/)

> [Perhaps art criticism cannot be reformed in a logical sense because it was never well-formed in the first place. Art criticism has long been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elkins/perhaps-art-criticism-cannot-be-reformed-in-a-logical-sense-because/)

[James Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elkins/)

> [It’s always going to be easy to live like others or other’s life, because creating or innovating something of own is always difficult in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/it-s-always-going-to-be-easy-to-live-like-others-or-other-s-life/)

[Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/)

> [A poet ought not to pick nature's pocket. Let him borrow, and so borrow as to repay by the very act of borrowing. Examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/a-poet-ought-not-to-pick-nature-s-pocket-let-him-borrow-and-so-borrow/)

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/)

> [Several southern actors are coming to Mumbai. Likewise, many Bollywood actors are appearing down South or borrowing ideas from southern films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/several-southern-actors-are-coming-to-mumbai-likewise-many-bollywood/)

[Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/)

> [As for borrowing Mr. Whistler's ideas about art, the only thoroughly original ideas I have heard him express have had reference to his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-for-borrowing-mr-whistler-s-ideas-about-art-the-only-thoroughly/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start. Inquiring about a difference is like asking to borrow string when you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hsu-yun/saints-and-ordinary-folks-are-the-same-from-the-start-inquiring-about/)

Hsu Yun

> [Borrowing money on what's called 'easy terms,' is a one-way ticket to the Poor House. If you think it ain't a Sucker Game, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/borrowing-money-on-what-s-called-easy-terms-is-a-one-way-ticket-to/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [What I'm concerned about is endless borrowing, which is going to compromise our economy not only today but in the future. Because we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/what-i-m-concerned-about-is-endless-borrowing-which-is-going-to/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [Debt is a bottomless sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/debt-is-a-bottomless-sea/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is a big problem. The problem is the country borrowed too much. We went on a borrowing binge, there was a housing boom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/there-is-a-big-problem-the-problem-is-the-country-borrowed-too-much/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [Debtor countries may postpone the inevitable by borrowing from the IMF or U.S. Treasury to buy out bondholders. This saves the latter from taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/debtor-countries-may-postpone-the-inevitable-by-borrowing-from-the/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/)

[Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/)

[Browse all 303 Borrowing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Al Gore"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout-this-land-we-re-borrowing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Borrowing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout-this-land-we-re-borrowing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/al-gore-609_borrowing_as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout_723704.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the…” — Al Gore",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Al Gore",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As I have said for many...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout-this-land-we-re-borrowing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-i-have-said-for-many-years-throughout-this-land-we-re-borrowing/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
