--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This country has wasted too many years…" description: "\"This country has wasted too many years pretending it had the luxury of debating climate change.\" — Bill de Blasio" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png" --- # This country has wasted too many years pretending it had… ![“This country has wasted too many years pretending it had the luxury of debating climate change.” quote by Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png) > “This country has wasted too many years pretending it had the luxury of debating climate change.” [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker criticizes prolonged debate on climate change, urging immediate action instead of endless discussion. **In simple terms:** Talk is cheap; act now. Key Takeaway Prioritize concrete climate actions over endless debate. Themes environment politics urgency Mood urgent determined Type political activist When to use this quote - city governance - legislation - public advocacy - environmental planning Key Concepts policy inertia climate denial Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders break the debate cycle? - What immediate steps can be taken? A Different Perspective Political gridlock can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Wasted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-wasted-5536165/) [Debating Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debating-climate-5536164/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending/) [Wasted Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasted-years-307887/) [Years Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-pretending-3230140/) ## Related quotes > [“This friend of his had first arrived on the planet Earth some fifteen Earth years previously, and he had worked hard to blend himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/this-friend-of-his-had-first-arrived-on-the-planet-earth-some-fifteen/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“After years of pretending at emotions, he'd grown to appreciate their mystery, their chaos and randomness. Sometimes they were predictable, one-dimensional, almost stupid -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-white/after-years-of-pretending-at-emotions-he-d-grown-to-appreciate-their/) [Kim White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-white/) > [I wasted so many years in my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liefeld/i-wasted-so-many-years-in-my-youth/) [Rob Liefeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liefeld/) > [No more memories, no more silent tears. No more gazing across the wasted years. Help me say goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/no-more-memories-no-more-silent-tears-no-more-gazing-across-the/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [You've always asked me to wait, as if we had time in abundance. But time is too precious, Perry. We've wasted years, when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-ve-always-asked-me-to-wait-as-if-we-had-time-in-abundance-but/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Put the park rangers to work. Lazy scheming loafers, they've wasted too many years selling tickets at toll booths and sitting behind desks filling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/put-the-park-rangers-to-work-lazy-scheming-loafers-they-ve-wasted-too/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [I wasted years worrying about what other people thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wasted-years-worrying-about-what-other-people-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He felt the rush of years, years wasted and years used wisely. 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Hell, we've got airplanes, we've got email, they've invented fucking cell phones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harvey-berrick/we-wasted-ten-years-and-you-re-worried-about-a-few-thousand-miles/) [Jane Harvey-Berrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harvey-berrick/) > [I wasted so many years just traveling and sitting in hotels, searching for things, not knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/i-wasted-so-many-years-just-traveling-and-sitting-in-hotels-searching/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [I have to believe that literature can effect change; otherwise, I would have no purpose in my life and would have wasted four years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-syjuco/i-have-to-believe-that-literature-can-effect-change-otherwise-i-would/) [Miguel Syjuco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-syjuco/) > [“A hundred days wasted out of two years and a bit ... a day when you were not in my heart; not a day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/a-hundred-days-wasted-out-of-two-years-and-a-bit-a-day-when-you-were/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [My daughters had helped me to stop worrying about my appearance over the years. I wasted so many years thinking I wasn't pretty enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-daughters-had-helped-me-to-stop-worrying-about-my-appearance-over/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Through our inattention, we have wasted the years that we might have used to prepare for lessened oil supplies. The next ten years are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/through-our-inattention-we-have-wasted-the-years-that-we-might-have/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) ## More by Bill de Blasio > [A holistic solution to income inequality is going to take a lot of work, but every time you prove that one of the strands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/a-holistic-solution-to-income-inequality-is-going-to-take-a-lot-of/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I haven't smoked marijuana since I was at NYU,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-haven-t-smoked-marijuana-since-i-was-at-nyu/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I've spent my life at public work, and I've spent many a day on a good cause that didn't have any lift, didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-ve-spent-my-life-at-public-work-and-i-ve-spent-many-a-day-on-a-good/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [If we can have a fast food restaurant on almost every corner, then we can certainly have a garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/if-we-can-have-a-fast-food-restaurant-on-almost-every-corner-then-we/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I've always had a very positive relationship with the municipal labor unions - a respectful relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-ve-always-had-a-very-positive-relationship-with-the-municipal-labor/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [Everything you heard about me is true. . . . I am not a free marketer. . . . I believe in the heavy hand of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/everything-you-heard-about-me-is-true-i-am-not-a-free-marketer-i/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I think unionization is good public policy. I think when families secure their economic future, that's good for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-think-unionization-is-good-public-policy-i-think-when-families/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [We do not ask more of the wealthy to punish success; we do it to create more success stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/we-do-not-ask-more-of-the-wealthy-to-punish-success-we-do-it-to/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I know the ugly history of corporate welfare, and that's not New York City's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-know-the-ugly-history-of-corporate-welfare-and-that-s-not-new-york/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I think small business is struggling in New York City. It's a fantastic market, it's a very appealing market, there's lots of opportunity, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-think-small-business-is-struggling-in-new-york-city-it-s-a/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [My parents were divorced when I was young. I was really brought up by my mother's side of the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/my-parents-were-divorced-when-i-was-young-i-was-really-brought-up-by/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [At a certain point, particularly in his third term, Mayor Bloomberg lost touch with the people he was serving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/at-a-certain-point-particularly-in-his-third-term-mayor-bloomberg/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [My wife and family, to say the least, are the center of my life; they are my grounding. I don't want to sound schmaltzy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/my-wife-and-family-to-say-the-least-are-the-center-of-my-life-they/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I think you can be smart and directed and focused, without being obnoxious, and get plenty done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-think-you-can-be-smart-and-directed-and-focused-without-being/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) > [I, thank God, don't engage in punditry anymore. That part of my life is behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-thank-god-don-t-engage-in-punditry-anymore-that-part-of-my-life-is/) [Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) [Explore all 61 Bill de Blasio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This country has wasted too many years pretending it had the luxury of debating climate change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill de Blasio" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-pretending-it-had-the-luxury/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-pretending-it-had-the-luxury/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fe/bill-de-blasio-11259_change_this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-p_3130726.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This country has wasted too many years pretending it had the luxury of debating climate change.” — Bill de Blasio", "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": "Bill de Blasio", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This country has wasted too many...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-pretending-it-had-the-luxury/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/this-country-has-wasted-too-many-years-pretending-it-had-the-luxury/#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 } } ] } ```