Access Quote by Alfred W. Crosby
“We of the richer societies, who have had access to more energy than we have the experience to wield intelligently are making decisions we are not qualified to make almost every time we enter the voting booth, go to the grocery store or step into a car show room. We do not know what is "normal." Because our whole life and in some respects a generation or two before us have only known this era of fossil fuel exploitation and resource grabbing; we call this normal.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Columbian Exchange, 1972
Modern societies make decisions without fully understanding the new energy‑driven normal they inherited.
In simple terms: We lack context for today's energy reality.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper historical perspective.
Themes
energy
societal change
decision making
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- policy voting
- consumer choices
- urban planning
Key Concepts
historical inertia
technological dependence
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions about "normal" are we missing?
- How can we educate voters on energy impacts?
A Different Perspective
Historical patterns may repeat without critical analysis.
