--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people who are out to destroy the…" description: "\"The people who are out to destroy the environment think they're going to get away with it. Are they breathing different air than we're breathing? Are t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/bette-midler-1976_air_the-people-who-are-out-to-destroy-the-en_1151510.jpg" --- # The people who are out to destroy the environment think… ![“The people who are out to destroy the environment think they're going to get away with it. Are they breathing different air than we're breathing? Are they eating different food? I mean, where do they think they're going to go? What do they think is going to be better than what they have destroyed?…” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/bette-midler-1976_air_the-people-who-are-out-to-destroy-the-en_1151510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/bette-midler-1976_air_the-people-who-are-out-to-destroy-the-en_1151510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/bette-midler-1976_air_the-people-who-are-out-to-destroy-the-en_1151510.jpg) > “The people who are out to destroy the environment think they're going to get away with it. Are they breathing different air than we're breathing? Are they eating different food? I mean, where do they think they're going to go? What do they think is going to be better than what they have destroyed? I just don't get it.” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who harm the planet often ignore the shared consequences, assuming they can escape accountability. **In simple terms:** Destructive actions ignore shared impact. Key Takeaway Hold polluters accountable and act responsibly. Themes environment accountability justice Mood concerned urgent Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community activism - consumer choices Key Concepts sustainability collective responsibility ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - What policies could deter environmental harm? - How can communities unite against ecological damage? A Different Perspective Change requires systemic shifts, not just individual blame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/we-won-t-have-a-society-if-we-destroy-the-environment/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Racism seduces us with its desire to categorize, shutting out the living and breathing and 'different' world all around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/racism-seduces-us-with-its-desire-to-categorize-shutting-out-the/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [“There is a place where I never was before: here breathing is different, and more dazzling than the sun is the radiance of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/there-is-a-place-where-i-never-was-before-here-breathing-is-different/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [We tend to put the environment last because we think the first thing we have to do is eliminate poverty and send children to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/we-tend-to-put-the-environment-last-because-we-think-the-first-thing-2/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [I don't want to be involved with just the environment because I think other issues tie so much into the environment, like native issues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severn-cullis-suzuki/i-don-t-want-to-be-involved-with-just-the-environment-because-i-think/) [Severn Cullis-Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severn-cullis-suzuki/) > [We know how to build cross-disciplinary teams that are needed to take good ideas and make them great businesses. We're good at nurturing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcginty/we-know-how-to-build-cross-disciplinary-teams-that-are-needed-to-take/) [Katie McGinty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcginty/) > [Everyone is a product of their own environment, and that, I think, has actually been the key lesson for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulisa/everyone-is-a-product-of-their-own-environment-and-that-i-think-has/) [Tulisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulisa/) > [I think the rest of the world would like to tell us how to manage our own environment. And I think that anybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/i-think-the-rest-of-the-world-would-like-to-tell-us-how-to-manage-our/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [I think the things that everyone can do are small things, but if they're done, it will eventually help the environment. I think recycling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimin/i-think-the-things-that-everyone-can-do-are-small-things-but-if-they/) [Jimin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimin/) > [Just as with other great words, the word environment means different things. You might say that a cave woman twenty thousand years ago sweeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/just-as-with-other-great-words-the-word-environment-means-different/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [Quite often when you help poor people, they don't think about the environment. They think about survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/quite-often-when-you-help-poor-people-they-don-t-think-about-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [I think that if you don't do the full analysis of what the origin of the electrical power is, where it comes from, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-marchionne/i-think-that-if-you-don-t-do-the-full-analysis-of-what-the-origin-of/) [Sergio Marchionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-marchionne/) > [We want to end poverty and protect our environment. But we think the most efficient way of achieving that is to change the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-kielburger/we-want-to-end-poverty-and-protect-our-environment-but-we-think-the/) [Craig Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-kielburger/) > [Western countries have gone through their development cycle and enjoyed the fruits of ruining the environment over many years and are now giving us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piyush-goyal/western-countries-have-gone-through-their-development-cycle-and/) [Piyush Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piyush-goyal/) > [We can kill lots of people. We do kill lots of people. We can destroy virtually anything we choose to destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/we-can-kill-lots-of-people-we-do-kill-lots-of-people-we-can-destroy/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you're bound to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [I'm a candle flame that sways in currents of air you can't see. You need to be the one who steadies me to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/i-m-a-candle-flame-that-sways-in-currents-of-air-you-can-t-see-you/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. 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