--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man has the lost the capacity to foresee…" description: "\"“Man has the lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end up destroying the earth.”\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/albert-schweitzer-701_ecology_man-has-the-lost-the-capacity-to-foresee_857618.jpg" --- # Man has the lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall… ![“Man has the lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end up destroying the earth.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/albert-schweitzer-701_ecology_man-has-the-lost-the-capacity-to-foresee_857618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/albert-schweitzer-701_ecology_man-has-the-lost-the-capacity-to-foresee_857618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/562/albert-schweitzer-701_ecology_man-has-the-lost-the-capacity-to-foresee_857618.jpg) > ““Man has the lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end up destroying the earth.”” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity has lost foresight, risking planetary destruction through short‑term actions. **In simple terms:** We lack future planning, harming Earth. Key Takeaway Cultivate long‑term thinking to protect the planet. Themes environment future responsibility Mood cautionary urgent Type environmental ethical When to use this quote - policy making - urban planning - education curricula Key Concepts sustainability intergenerational ethics risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prioritize future wellbeing? - What habits foster foresight? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains often outweigh long‑term costs in decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ecology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecology/) [Foresee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foresee/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Self destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-destruction/) ## Related quotes > [Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-has-lost-the-capacity-to-foresee-and-to-forestall-he-will-end-by/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I certainly wouldn't stand for policies that are gonna end up destroying America, this special place, because once this special place is destroyed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-certainly-wouldn-t-stand-for-policies-that-are-gonna-end-up/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [When you try to destroy other people, you only end up destroying yourself. ¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-try-to-destroy-other-people-you-only-end-up-destroying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We could be something amazing- or we could end up destroying each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-devlin/we-could-be-something-amazing-or-we-could-end-up-destroying-each-other/) [Ivy Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-devlin/) > [Sorry that was my morning rant about how humans are destroying our earth, as if you didn't already know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-kitching/sorry-that-was-my-morning-rant-about-how-humans-are-destroying-our/) [Audrey Kitching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-kitching/) > [“The nihilist looks around at everything and comes to terms with what seems to be obvious. The sun is one tiny dying star in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-morrison/the-nihilist-looks-around-at-everything-and-comes-to-terms-with-what/) [Jon Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-morrison/) > [Every day, TV, newspapers, and the Internet bombard us with a message that we're destroying the earth. Ice caps are melting, rivers are dying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/every-day-tv-newspapers-and-the-internet-bombard-us-with-a-message/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Today's voguish threats, including climate change, population growth, massive war, and resource depletion, are all amenable to a fix if we act prudently. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/today-s-voguish-threats-including-climate-change-population-growth/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Most people do not see that they are destroying their earth. The planet which gives them life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-people-do-not-see-that-they-are-destroying-their-earth-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing is costed properly and it's destroying the earth. We need to re-educate people that what is good for the planet is good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/nothing-is-costed-properly-and-it-s-destroying-the-earth-we-need-to/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Capitalism is destroying the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-caldicott/capitalism-is-destroying-the-earth/) [Helen Caldicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-caldicott/) > [“... a society devoted to self-destruction and waste but unwilling to acknowledge its indulgent ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/a-society-devoted-to-self-destruction-and-waste-but-unwilling-to/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [As the First World War made painfully clear, when politicians and generals lead nations into war, they almost invariably assume swift victory, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/as-the-first-world-war-made-painfully-clear-when-politicians-and/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [“I foresee that my life will be much better in future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-c-mathobela/i-foresee-that-my-life-will-be-much-better-in-future/) K.C Mathobela > [I didn't foresee troubles in my second film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-didn-t-foresee-troubles-in-my-second-film/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Destroying quotes > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-wall-street-and-credit-card-companies-are-doing-is-really-not/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Work and leisure are complementary parts of the same living process and cannot be separated without destroying the joy of work and the bliss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/work-and-leisure-are-complementary-parts-of-the-same-living-process/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/you-cannot-help-the-poor-by-destroying-the-rich/) [William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The future is religion and commerce, aphrodisiac and Benzedrine, a mother of mysterious comfort and a mistress of familiar ravishments ever on the verge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-kennedy/the-future-is-religion-and-commerce-aphrodisiac-and-benzedrine-a/) [Eugene Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-kennedy/) > [Time is a corrosive fluid, dissolving motivation, destroying novelty, and leaching the joy from life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/time-is-a-corrosive-fluid-dissolving-motivation-destroying-novelty/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Religion grants its adherents malign, intoxicating and morally corrosive sensations. Destroying intellectual freedom is always evil, but only religion makes doing evil feel quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/religion-grants-its-adherents-malign-intoxicating-and-morally/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Even if we are destroying this planet, we are playing our role perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/even-if-we-are-destroying-this-planet-we-are-playing-our-role/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [Love creates an "us" without destroying the "me".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-creates-an-us-without-destroying-the-me/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. 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By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) Browse all 983 Destroying quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Man has the lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. 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