--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Capitalism is destroying the planet. The…" description: "\"“Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises--War and Shopping--simply will not work.”\" — Arundhati Roy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png" --- # Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks… ![“Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises--War and Shopping--simply will not work.” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png) > ““Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises--War and Shopping--simply will not work.”” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capitalism’s reliance on war and consumerism cannot solve ecological collapse. **In simple terms:** Capitalism harms planet; old tricks fail. Key Takeaway Seek systemic change. Themes environment economics politics Mood concerned urgent Type critical activist When to use this quote - policy making - activism - business strategy Key Concepts sustainability systemic risk Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to war and shopping exist? - How can individuals push for systemic change? A Different Perspective Economic incentives often resist ecological reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Capitalism Destroying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism-destroying-992230/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Crises War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crises-war-5694031/) [Destroying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying/) [Destroying Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroying-planet-419795/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Planet Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet-old-5926442/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Capitalism is destroying Mother Earth, and to destroy Mother Earth is to destroy humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/capitalism-is-destroying-mother-earth-and-to-destroy-mother-earth-is/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [Capitalism’s real “grave-diggers” may end up being its own delusional Cardinals, who have turned ideology into faith. Despite their strategic brilliance, they seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/capitalism-s-real-grave-diggers-may-end-up-being-its-own-delusional/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Our understanding of the mechanisms of escalation in crises and war is limited at best, although we know the risks are considerable. Pushing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/our-understanding-of-the-mechanisms-of-escalation-in-crises-and-war/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [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/) > [I think that at some level, people recognize that growing our economy is destroying us. It's destroying us as human beings, it's destroying our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/i-think-that-at-some-level-people-recognize-that-growing-our-economy/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's not an investment if its destroying the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/it-s-not-an-investment-if-its-destroying-the-planet/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [I can't imagine something being beautiful at this point in history if it's destroying the planet or causing children to get sick. How can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/i-can-t-imagine-something-being-beautiful-at-this-point-in-history-if/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [We speak often of 'destroying the planet' when what we mean is destroying its habitability for humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/we-speak-often-of-destroying-the-planet-when-what-we-mean-is/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [We see how capitalism is destroying Mother Earth. I remain convinced that the Earth can exist without man but man cannot live without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/we-see-how-capitalism-is-destroying-mother-earth-i-remain-convinced/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [Once we link up and network, there will be new institutions, new beginnings, and a change in the economy because capitalism is destroying many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/once-we-link-up-and-network-there-will-be-new-institutions-new/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Capitalism is destroying the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/capitalism-is-destroying-the-world/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [There is nothing efficient about destroying the planet as we know it because vested interests want to keep us addicted to fossil fuels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/there-is-nothing-efficient-about-destroying-the-planet-as-we-know-it/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I can't really see how anybody could be particularly optimistic about the future in general because we are destroying the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leigh/i-can-t-really-see-how-anybody-could-be-particularly-optimistic-about/) [Mike Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leigh/) > [We're destroying the planet, and the planet rebels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/we-re-destroying-the-planet-and-the-planet-rebels/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. It's only when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-ve-never-been-that-person-who-thought-that-because-i-ve-written-one/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I think one of the saddest things that's happening to literature is that it's getting over-simplified by this diet of simple political ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-think-one-of-the-saddest-things-that-s-happening-to-literature-is/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Capitalism quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) [F. A. Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-a-harper/) > [The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-free-market-is-ugly-and-stupid-like-going-to-the-mall-the-unfree/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [There are no two countries with the same style of economic mechanism, with the same capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/there-are-no-two-countries-with-the-same-style-of-economic-mechanism/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Socialism is humanity's second nature. All politicians do is turn human vice into votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/socialism-is-humanity-s-second-nature-all-politicians-do-is-turn/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [“Scholars have long debated whether capital markets lead to appropriate levels of saving and investment for future generations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-l-weimer/scholars-have-long-debated-whether-capital-markets-lead-to/) [David L. Weimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-l-weimer/) > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 3,832 Capitalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises--War and Shopping--simply will not work.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arundhati Roy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the-two-old-tricks-that-dug-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Capitalism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the-two-old-tricks-that-dug-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/arundhati-roy-346_capitalism_capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the_765227.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Capitalism is destroying the planet. The two old tricks that dug it out of past crises--War and…” — Arundhati Roy", "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": "Arundhati Roy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Capitalism is destroying the planet. The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the-two-old-tricks-that-dug-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/capitalism-is-destroying-the-planet-the-two-old-tricks-that-dug-it/#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 } } ] } ```