--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But wherever the truth may lie, this much…" description: "\"“But wherever the truth may lie, this much is crystal-clear: our bigger-and-better society is now like a hypochondriac, so obsessed with its own econom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png" --- # But wherever the truth may lie, this much is… ![“But wherever the truth may lie, this much is crystal-clear: our bigger-and-better society is now like a hypochondriac, so obsessed with its own economic health as to have lost the capacity to remain healthy.” quote by Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png) > ““But wherever the truth may lie, this much is crystal-clear: our bigger-and-better society is now like a hypochondriac, so obsessed with its own economic health as to have lost the capacity to remain healthy.”” [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society prioritizes economic metrics over genuine well‑being, becoming sick despite apparent prosperity. **In simple terms:** Economic focus harms health. Key Takeaway Balance economy with health. Themes environment economics health society wellbeing Mood concerned critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - policy making - corporate strategy - personal lifestyle choices - community planning Key Concepts sustainability systemic risk public health Questions to Reflect On - How can we measure health beyond GDP? - What policies could rebalance economic and physical well‑being? A Different Perspective Economic growth alone cannot guarantee societal health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservation/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Hypochondriac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypochondriac/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [But wherever the truth may lie, this much is crystal-clear: our bigger-and-better society is now like a hypochondriac, so obsessed with its own economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much-is-crystal-clear-our-bigger-2/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [“I’ve been worried since I left the womb Like a schizophrenic on shrooms Like a hypochondriac on crack Never shy with the panic attacks;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-wetch/i-ve-been-worried-since-i-left-the-womb-like-a-schizophrenic-on/) [Justin Wetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-wetch/) > [“When character is lost, nothing is lost; when wealth is lost, something is lost; but when health is lost, everything is lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/when-character-is-lost-nothing-is-lost-when-wealth-is-lost-something/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [When money is lost, a little is lost. When time is lost, much more is lost. When health is lost, practically everything is lost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/when-money-is-lost-a-little-is-lost-when-time-is-lost-much-more-is/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Money lost-nothing lost, Health lost-little lost, Spirit lost-everything lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/igor-sikorsky/money-lost-nothing-lost-health-lost-little-lost-spirit-lost/) [Igor Sikorsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/igor-sikorsky/) > [Nor love, not honor, wealth nor power, can give the heart a cheerful hour when health is lost. Be timely wise; With health all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/nor-love-not-honor-wealth-nor-power-can-give-the-heart-a-cheerful/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [If HEALTH Is Lost, Nothing Is Lost. If WEALTH Is Lost, Something Is Lost. If CHARACTER Is Lost, Everything Is Lost...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-health-is-lost-nothing-is-lost-if-wealth-is-lost-something-is-lost/) Pacifiersucker > [“When wealth is lost, little is lost. When health is lost, something is lost, but when character is lost ALL is lost!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-mitchell/when-wealth-is-lost-little-is-lost-when-health-is-lost-something-is/) Cheyenne Mitchell > [When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/when-wealth-is-lost-nothing-is-lost-when-health-is-lost-something-is/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [It was challenging. It was never easy for me. My life changed suddenly, and I lost my health. I lost the body that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-purdy/it-was-challenging-it-was-never-easy-for-me-my-life-changed-suddenly/) [Amy Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-purdy/) > [The practice of conservation must spring from a conviction of what is ethically and aesthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/the-practice-of-conservation-must-spring-from-a-conviction-of-what-is/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [ A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke \[of the axe\] he is writing his signature on the face of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/a-conservationist-is-one-who-is-humbly-aware-that-with-each-stroke-of/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [“That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/that-land-is-a-community-is-the-basic-concept-of-ecology-but-that/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Thus far we have considered the problem of conservation of land purely as an economic issue. A false front of exclusively economic determinism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/thus-far-we-have-considered-the-problem-of-conservation-of-land/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [In our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/in-our-attempt-to-make-conservation-easy-we-have-made-it-trivial/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) ## More by Aldo Leopold > [The worthiness of any cause is not measured by its clean record, but by its readiness to see the blots when they are pointed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/the-worthiness-of-any-cause-is-not-measured-by-its-clean-record-but/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Is it possible to preserve the element of Unknown Places in our national life? Is it practicable to do so, without undue loss in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/is-it-possible-to-preserve-the-element-of-unknown-places-in-our/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Teach the student to see the land, understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/teach-the-student-to-see-the-land-understand-what-he-sees-and-enjoy/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Wildflower corners are easy to maintain, but once gone, they are hard to rebuild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/wildflower-corners-are-easy-to-maintain-but-once-gone-they-are-hard/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [In our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/in-our-attempt-to-make-conservation-easy-we-have-made-it-trivial/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [He who searches for spring with his knees in the mud finds it, in abundance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/he-who-searches-for-spring-with-his-knees-in-the-mud-finds-it-in/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Nonconformity is the highest evolutionary attainment of social animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/nonconformity-is-the-highest-evolutionary-attainment-of-social-animals/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [If education really educates, there will, in time, be more and more citizens who understand that relics of the old West add meaning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/if-education-really-educates-there-will-in-time-be-more-and-more/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [This song of the waters is audible to every ear, but there is other music in these hills, by no means audible to all……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/this-song-of-the-waters-is-audible-to-every-ear-but-there-is-other/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [To those who know the speech of hills and rivers straightening a stream is like shipping vagrants—a very successful method of passing trouble from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/to-those-who-know-the-speech-of-hills-and-rivers-straightening-a/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Wilderness is a resource which can shrink but not grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/wilderness-is-a-resource-which-can-shrink-but-not-grow/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/we-shall-never-achieve-harmony-with-land-any-more-than-we-shall/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [Wilderness is the very stuff America is made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/wilderness-is-the-very-stuff-america-is-made-of/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [The landscape of any farm is the owner's portrait of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/the-landscape-of-any-farm-is-the-owner-s-portrait-of-himself/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [If we lose our wilderness, we have nothing left, in my opinion, worth fighting for; or to be more exact, a completely industrialized United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/if-we-lose-our-wilderness-we-have-nothing-left-in-my-opinion-worth/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) [Explore all 254 Aldo Leopold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) ## More Conservation quotes > [“In the United States law, federally designated wilderness is famously defined as 'an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-marris/in-the-united-states-law-federally-designated-wilderness-is-famously/) [Emma Marris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-marris/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I am optimistic globally. So many scientists are working frantically on the reparation of our planet. Unfortunately there are countries who are still destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-am-optimistic-globally-so-many-scientists-are-working-frantically/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [We must commit ourselves to an 'all of the above' energy approach, with a major focus on increasing domestic production and expanding alternatives fuels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-roskam/we-must-commit-ourselves-to-an-all-of-the-above-energy-approach-with/) [Peter Roskam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-roskam/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) Amy Ridenour > [Conservation is humanity caring for the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-newhall/conservation-is-humanity-caring-for-the-future/) Nancy Newhall > [In our attempt to make conservation easy, we have made it trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/in-our-attempt-to-make-conservation-easy-we-have-made-it-trivial/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [When you defile the pleasant streams, And the wild bird's abiding place, You massacre a million dreams, And cast your spittle in God's face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-drinkwater/when-you-defile-the-pleasant-streams-and-the-wild-bird-s-abiding/) [John Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-drinkwater/) > [It's clear that it is in the best interest of business to be part of the conservation, along with governments and civil society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/it-s-clear-that-it-is-in-the-best-interest-of-business-to-be-part-of/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [To Jane Jacob’s three traditional urban values of civic space, human scale and diversity, the current environmental imperative adds two more: conservation and regionalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-calthorpe/to-jane-jacob-s-three-traditional-urban-values-of-civic-space-human/) Peter Calthorpe > [Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/something-will-have-gone-out-of-us-as-a-people-if-we-ever-let-the/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [There is no domestic issue more important to America in the long run than the conservation and proper use of our natural resources, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-nelson/there-is-no-domestic-issue-more-important-to-america-in-the-long-run/) [Gaylord Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-nelson/) > [The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem it will avail us little to solve all others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-conservation-of-natural-resources-is-the-fundamental-problem/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) [Browse all 579 Conservation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But wherever the truth may lie, this much is crystal-clear: our bigger-and-better society is now like a hypochondriac, so obsessed with its own economic health as to have lost the capacity to remain healthy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldo Leopold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much-is-crystal-clear-our-bigger/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conservation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much-is-crystal-clear-our-bigger/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62e/aldo-leopold-1278_conservation_but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much_684801.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But wherever the truth may lie, this much is crystal-clear: our bigger-and-better society is now like a…” — Aldo Leopold", "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": "Aldo Leopold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But wherever the truth may lie,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much-is-crystal-clear-our-bigger/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/but-wherever-the-truth-may-lie-this-much-is-crystal-clear-our-bigger/#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 } } ] } ```