--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we attempt to preserve the consumer…" description: "\"If we attempt to preserve the consumer economy indefinitely, ecological forces will dismantle it savagely. If we proceed to dismantle it gradually ours..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/alan-thein-durning-53455_consumers_if-we-attempt-to-preserve-the-consumer-e_2966802.jpg" --- # If we attempt to preserve the consumer economy… ![“If we attempt to preserve the consumer economy indefinitely, ecological forces will dismantle it savagely. If we proceed to dismantle it gradually ourselves, we will have the opportunity of replacing it with a low consumption economy that can endure.” quote by Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/alan-thein-durning-53455_consumers_if-we-attempt-to-preserve-the-consumer-e_2966802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/alan-thein-durning-53455_consumers_if-we-attempt-to-preserve-the-consumer-e_2966802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acb/alan-thein-durning-53455_consumers_if-we-attempt-to-preserve-the-consumer-e_2966802.jpg) > “If we attempt to preserve the consumer economy indefinitely, ecological forces will dismantle it savagely. If we proceed to dismantle it gradually ourselves, we will have the opportunity of replacing it with a low consumption economy that can endure.” [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic systems that ignore ecological limits will collapse; deliberate transition to low‑consumption models offers sustainable alternatives. **In simple terms:** Ignoring ecology leads to collapse; planned low‑consumption can survive. Key Takeaway Plan for a low‑consumption future. Themes economics ecology sustainability transition policy Mood concerned urgent Type policy environmental strategic When to use this quote - government planning - business strategy - community initiatives - educational curricula Key Concepts systems thinking resource limits circular economy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies incentivize low‑consumption lifestyles? - What policies best support a sustainable economic shift? A Different Perspective Transition may face resistance and short‑term economic pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consumer Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumer-economy-711628/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption/) [Consumption Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption-economy-3984245/) [Ecological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecological/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Economy Indefinitely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy-indefinitely-4547350/) [Endure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endure/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Indefinitely Ecological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indefinitely-ecological-4547351/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Preserve Consumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserve-consumer-4547349/) [Preserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserves/) ## Related quotes > [ A massive campaign must be launched to de-develop the United States… \[we\] must design a stable, low-consumption economy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holdren/a-massive-campaign-must-be-launched-to-de-develop-the-united-states-2/) [John Holdren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holdren/) > [The Chinese economy's still not that much of a consumer economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/the-chinese-economy-s-still-not-that-much-of-a-consumer-economy/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [What is urgently needed is a bold new move from a consumer economy to a conserver economy in all of the developed countries, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/what-is-urgently-needed-is-a-bold-new-move-from-a-consumer-economy-to/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [$60,000 spent in a consumer economy multiplies by respending into $180,000](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/60-000-spent-in-a-consumer-economy-multiplies-by-respending-into-180/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [It is not economic development; it's about taking money out of the consumer economy and shipping it off to Las Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/it-is-not-economic-development-it-s-about-taking-money-out-of-the/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [For every slot machine you add, you lose one job per year from the consumer economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/for-every-slot-machine-you-add-you-lose-one-job-per-year-from-the/) [John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/) > [“What causes recessions? Many economists talk about the need for a consumer economy, but we can't have a consumer economy if people can't afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-adams/what-causes-recessions-many-economists-talk-about-the-need-for-a/) [Martin Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-adams/) > [You have to make the shift from being a consumer in the economy to becoming an owner-and you do it by becoming an investor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/you-have-to-make-the-shift-from-being-a-consumer-in-the-economy-to/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Instead of engaging in cutthroat competition, we should strive to create value. In economic terms, this means a transition from a consumer economy -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/instead-of-engaging-in-cutthroat-competition-we-should-strive-to/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [“Consumer culture is best supported by markets made up of sexual clones, men who want objects and women who want to be objects, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/consumer-culture-is-best-supported-by-markets-made-up-of-sexual/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [Dispossessed peasants slash-and-burn their way into the rain forests of Latin America, hungry nomads turn their herds out into fragile African rangeland, reducing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/dispossessed-peasants-slash-and-burn-their-way-into-the-rain-forests/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) > [But the basic value of a sustainable society, the ecological equivalent of the Golden Rule, is simple: each generation should meet its needs without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/but-the-basic-value-of-a-sustainable-society-the-ecological/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) > [I think that once you fully understand the climate and ecological emergencies, then you know what you can do as well. And, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-think-that-once-you-fully-understand-the-climate-and-ecological/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Birds are an ecological litmus paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-tory-peterson/birds-are-an-ecological-litmus-paper/) [Roger Tory Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-tory-peterson/) > [The re-establishment of an ecological balance depends on the ability of society to counteract the progressive materialization of values. The ecological balance cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/the-re-establishment-of-an-ecological-balance-depends-on-the-ability/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) ## More by Alan Thein Durning > [Economists use the word consume to mean "utilize economic goods," but the Shorter Oxford Dictionary's definition is more appropriate to ecologists: "To make away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/economists-use-the-word-consume-to-mean-utilize-economic-goods-but/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) > [Who would have predicted a century ago that the richest civilizations in history would be made up of polluted tracts of suburban development dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/who-would-have-predicted-a-century-ago-that-the-richest-civilizations/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) > [But the basic value of a sustainable society, the ecological equivalent of the Golden Rule, is simple: each generation should meet its needs without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/but-the-basic-value-of-a-sustainable-society-the-ecological/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) > [If the life-supporting ecosystems of the planet are to survive for future generations, the consumer society will have to dramatically curtail its use of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/if-the-life-supporting-ecosystems-of-the-planet-are-to-survive-for/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) > [Dispossessed peasants slash-and-burn their way into the rain forests of Latin America, hungry nomads turn their herds out into fragile African rangeland, reducing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-thein-durning/dispossessed-peasants-slash-and-burn-their-way-into-the-rain-forests/) [Alan Thein Durning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) [Explore all 6 Alan Thein Durning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-thein-durning/) ## More Consumers quotes > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [I've always considered making it legal for Americans to import their prescription drugs a free-trade issue. Imports create competition and keep domestic industry more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-ve-always-considered-making-it-legal-for-americans-to-import-their/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [“In a world where consumers had limited choice, you needed to compete for locations,” says Ross, who went on to cofound eCommera, a British…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/in-a-world-where-consumers-had-limited-choice-you-needed-to-compete/) [Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/) > [The capitalistic social order, therefore, is an economic democracy in the strictest sense of the word. 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It makes no sense to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/why-is-caterpillar-bad-if-we-create-a-new-job-in-india-or-china-to/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) > [America always put forth this phony melting pot theory, but it's a reality now. 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It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Many of us are alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of medical care, including patients, who are the consumers. However, medical malpractice is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-baca/many-of-us-are-alarmed-at-the-skyrocketing-cost-of-medical-care/) [Joe Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-baca/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Browse all 1,606 Consumers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we attempt to preserve the consumer economy indefinitely, ecological forces will dismantle it savagely. 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