--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The old rules may say we can't protect…" description: "\"The old rules may say we can't protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in America, we've always used new technologies..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg" --- # The old rules may say we can't protect our environment and… ![“The old rules may say we can't protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in America, we've always used new technologies - we've used science; we've used research and development and discovery to make the old rules obsolete.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg) > “The old rules may say we can't protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in America, we've always used new technologies - we've used science; we've used research and development and discovery to make the old rules obsolete.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress requires updating outdated policies with new scientific and technological solutions to balance environmental protection and economic growth. **In simple terms:** Update old rules with new tech for growth and environment. Key Takeaway Embrace innovation to solve climate‑economy tension. Themes environment economy technology policy innovation Mood optimistic urgent Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government regulation - business investment - research funding Key Concepts sustainable development public policy science‑driven change Questions to Reflect On - What policies must accompany tech advances? - How to ensure benefits reach all communities? A Different Perspective Technology alone cannot address systemic inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-growth/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [New technologies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-technologies/) [New technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-technology/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) [Old Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-rules-1380897/) [Our environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-environment/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-environment-331430/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Research and development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research-and-development/) [Rules Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-obsolete-4820108/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Used Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-science-4820109/) ## Related quotes > [“Every once in a while, an up-or-down-leg goes on for a long time and/or to a great extreme and people start to say "this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-marks/every-once-in-a-while-an-up-or-down-leg-goes-on-for-a-long-time-and/) [Howard Marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-marks/) > [I remain as committed as ever to working across party lines with anyone who believes we must invest in the future of our economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-himes/i-remain-as-committed-as-ever-to-working-across-party-lines-with/) [Jim Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-himes/) > [Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach a level of research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-is-not-the-time-to-gut-these-job-creating-investments-in-science/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [21st century businesses will rely on American science, technology, research and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/21st-century-businesses-will-rely-on-american-science-technology/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We invest in early childhood education. We invest additional job training dollars. We make sure that we've got a strong research and development strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-invest-in-early-childhood-education-we-invest-additional-job/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas... Every dollar we invested to map the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-we-want-to-make-the-best-products-we-also-have-to-invest-in-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Old rules and habits have to be rejected and dismissed so that something new can be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cretu/old-rules-and-habits-have-to-be-rejected-and-dismissed-so-that/) [Michael Cretu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cretu/) > [“Old rules and habits have to be dismissed so that something new can be created.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cretu/old-rules-and-habits-have-to-be-dismissed-so-that-something-new-can/) [Michael Cretu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cretu/) > [The old rules and the old methods of winning are gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-old-rules-and-the-old-methods-of-winning-are-gone/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [In the 1970s we got nouvelle cuisine, in which a lot of the old rules were kicked over. 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This desire to throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/this-is-something-that-as-artists-we-constantly-deal-with-throwing/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [It's in our best interest to put some of the old rules aside and create new ones and follow the consumer - what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-iger/it-s-in-our-best-interest-to-put-some-of-the-old-rules-aside-and/) [Bob Iger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-iger/) > [While we believe there are fruitful opportunities to update and improve old rules, we do not want to set up a review process that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-thompson/while-we-believe-there-are-fruitful-opportunities-to-update-and/) [Fred Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-thompson/) > [I mean, I was always interested in people like Lenny Bruce, people who are breaking the old rules and making new ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-dunaway/i-mean-i-was-always-interested-in-people-like-lenny-bruce-people-who/) [Faye Dunaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-dunaway/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The old rules may say we can't protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in America, we've always used new technologies - we've used science; we've used research and development and discovery to make the old rules obsolete.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-our-environment-and-promote/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-our-environment-and-promote/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/barack-obama-17_america_the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-o_3009855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The old rules may say we can't protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in…” — Barack Obama", "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": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The old rules may say we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-our-environment-and-promote/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-old-rules-may-say-we-can-t-protect-our-environment-and-promote/#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 } } ] } ```