---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I report the assault on nature evidenced…"
description: "\"I report the assault on nature evidenced in coal mining that tears the tops off mountains and dumps them into rivers, sacrificing the health and lives ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png"
---

#  I report the assault on nature evidenced in coal mining…

![“I report the assault on nature evidenced in coal mining that tears the tops off mountains and dumps them into rivers, sacrificing the health and lives of those in the river valleys to short-term profit, and I see a link between that process and the stock-market frenzy which scorns long-term…” quote by Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png)

> “I report the assault on nature evidenced in coal mining that tears the tops off mountains and dumps them into rivers, sacrificing the health and lives of those in the river valleys to short-term profit, and I see a link between that process and the stock-market frenzy which scorns long-term investments-genuine savings-in favor of quick turnovers and speculative bubbles whose inevitable bursting leaves insiders with stuffed pockets and millions of small stockholders, pensioners, and employees out of work, out of luck, and out of hope.”

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Industrial extraction harms ecosystems and communities for short‑term profit, mirroring speculative finance that rewards insiders over ordinary people.

**In simple terms:** Mining and finance both prioritize quick gains over long‑term health and stability.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize sustainable practices and responsible investing.

Themes

environment economics justice sustainability speculation

Mood

concerned urgent reflective

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- policy making
- community advocacy
- investment decisions
- corporate governance

Key Concepts

externalities systemic risk intergenerational equity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we align profit motives with ecological stewardship?
- What policies could curb speculative bubbles that harm everyday workers?

A Different Perspective

Long‑term solutions are often politically and economically resisted.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Assault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/) [Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bubbles/) [Bursting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bursting/) [Coal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal/) [Coal mining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coal-mining/) [Dump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dump/) [Dumps Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumps-rivers-892952/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Frenzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frenzy/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health and life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-and-life-80473/) [Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitable/) [Insiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insiders/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Links](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/links/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Mining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mining/) [Mining Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mining-tears-892951/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Mountains Dumps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains-dumps-892950/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pockets/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Reports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reports/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Saving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving/) [Savings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savings/) [Scorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scorn/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Speculative Bubbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speculative-bubbles-551373/) [Sustainability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustainability/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Turnover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turnover/) [Valleys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valleys/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/)

## Related quotes

> [Concentrating wealth in the hands of the few and deregulating financial institutions and practices lead to speculative bubbles that eventually burst - and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-granholm/concentrating-wealth-in-the-hands-of-the-few-and-deregulating/)

[Jennifer Granholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-granholm/)

> [A major boom in real stock prices in the US after Black Tuesday brought them halfway back to 1929 levels by 1930. This was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-shiller/a-major-boom-in-real-stock-prices-in-the-us-after-black-tuesday/)

[Robert J. Shiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-shiller/)

> [I've always believed that a speculative bubble need not lead to a recession, as long as interest rates are cut quickly enough to stimulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-ve-always-believed-that-a-speculative-bubble-need-not-lead-to-a/)

[Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/)

> [The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-doctor-of-the-future-will-no-longer-treat-the-human-frame-with/)

[Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/)

> [In the last few centuries we've managed to reduce how much we kill each other, we've learned some basic lessons about public health, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/in-the-last-few-centuries-we-ve-managed-to-reduce-how-much-we-kill/)

[Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/)

> [...Chemicals(:)...We not only don't know what's going on out there is dangerous ~ we don't even know what is going on out there. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-e-train/chemicals-we-not-only-don-t-know-what-s-going-on-out-there-is/)

[Russell E. Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-e-train/)

> [Money has, as we know, no value in itself. It is a convenient yardstick for a large number of material values. But the health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-evang/money-has-as-we-know-no-value-in-itself-it-is-a-convenient-yardstick/)

[Karl Evang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-evang/)

> [I believe that once people really grasp what is at stake for their health and their lives, and for the health and lives of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-chivian/i-believe-that-once-people-really-grasp-what-is-at-stake-for-their/)

[Eric Chivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-chivian/)

> [I think you might dispense with half your doctors if you would only consult Dr. Sun more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-think-you-might-dispense-with-half-your-doctors-if-you-would-only/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lewontin/we-take-the-side-of-science-in-spite-of-the-patent-absurdity-of-some/)

[Richard Lewontin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lewontin/)

> [the fact that they stole their whole shtick from Woody Guthrie and the coal-mining bards. While the alternative nation meows about personal fashion angst,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/the-fact-that-they-stole-their-whole-shtick-from-woody-guthrie-and/)

[Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/)

> [It seems the EPA has worked hard to devise new regulations that are designed to eliminate coal mining, coal burning, usage of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-rogers/it-seems-the-epa-has-worked-hard-to-devise-new-regulations-that-are/)

[Hal Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-rogers/)

> [Growing up I played piano and I sang at a lot of weddings; I grew up in a very small town, a little coal-mining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayma-mays/growing-up-i-played-piano-and-i-sang-at-a-lot-of-weddings-i-grew-up/)

[Jayma Mays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayma-mays/)

> [Coal mining is tough. Acting is just tedious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-knoxville/coal-mining-is-tough-acting-is-just-tedious/)

[Johnny Knoxville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-knoxville/)

> [In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who were involved in the struggle knew why they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/in-that-sense-i-became-politicized-because-the-people-in-the-coal/)

[Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/)

## More by Bill Moyers

> [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [They're counting on your patriotism to distract you from their plunder. They're counting on you to be standing at attention with your hand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/they-re-counting-on-your-patriotism-to-distract-you-from-their/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/charity-provides-crumbs-from-the-table-justice-offers-a-place-at-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Conservatism is less a set of ideas than it is a pathological distemper, a militant anger over the fact that the universe is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/conservatism-is-less-a-set-of-ideas-than-it-is-a-pathological/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [When the public loses faith in democracy's ability to solve the problems it has created for itself, the game's almost over. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/when-the-public-loses-faith-in-democracy-s-ability-to-solve-the/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [It's very difficult to measure the impact on policy of any investigative journalism. You hope it matters to let a little more truth loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/it-s-very-difficult-to-measure-the-impact-on-policy-of-any/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Democracy works when people claim it as their own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/democracy-works-when-people-claim-it-as-their-own/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Sure enough, as merger has followed merger, journalism has been driven further down the hierarchy of values in the huge conglomerates that dominate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/sure-enough-as-merger-has-followed-merger-journalism-has-been-driven/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [Unless you're willing to fight and refight the same battles until you go blue in the face, drive the people you work with nuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/unless-you-re-willing-to-fight-and-refight-the-same-battles-until-you/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/this-is-the-first-time-in-my-32-years-in-public-broadcasting-that-pbs/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [If being tolerant of differing opinions, if believing that America has to make it as a pluralistic nation, if being civil, if that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-being-tolerant-of-differing-opinions-if-believing-that-america-has/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [“Civilization is but a thin veneer stretched across the passions of the human heart. And civilization doesn't just happen; we have to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/civilization-is-but-a-thin-veneer-stretched-across-the-passions-of/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [I really believe that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-really-believe-that-coincidence-is-god-s-way-of-remaining-anonymous/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

> [A profound transformation is happening here. The framers of our nation never envisioned these huge media giants; never imagined what could happen if big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/a-profound-transformation-is-happening-here-the-framers-of-our-nation/)

[Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

[Explore all 157 Bill Moyers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/)

## More Assault quotes

> [In an attempt to hinder, if not altogether halt, the next move of God, Satan has sent forth an army of faultfinding demons against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-frangipane/in-an-attempt-to-hinder-if-not-altogether-halt-the-next-move-of-god/)

[Francis Frangipane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-frangipane/)

> [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I don't know how I can feel safe with Donald Trump, who bragged about sexual assault having the most power of anyone in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-pozner/i-don-t-know-how-i-can-feel-safe-with-donald-trump-who-bragged-about/)

[Jennifer Pozner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-pozner/)

> [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cuomo/their-problem-is-not-me-and-the-democrats-their-problem-is-themselves/)

[Andrew Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cuomo/)

> [I wrapped a movie called 'Zombieland,' in which I was constantly under assault by zombies, then flew to New York, still very much in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/i-wrapped-a-movie-called-zombieland-in-which-i-was-constantly-under/)

[Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/)

> [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm the same guy at that podium preaching to the people on every single song. I'm not doing a dance for you on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/i-m-the-same-guy-at-that-podium-preaching-to-the-people-on-every/)

[Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/)

> [That tertiary education is under a sustained assault by a political and - it often seems - social consensus that equates all education with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-self/that-tertiary-education-is-under-a-sustained-assault-by-a-political/)

[Will Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-self/)

> [The biggest threat to any politician is an artist. Comedians unleashed can do a great deal of damage. David Letterman can do more damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/the-biggest-threat-to-any-politician-is-an-artist-comedians-unleashed/)

[Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/)

> [George W. Bush and his administration embarked on a full-scale assault on civil liberties, human rights and the rule of law, walking away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/george-w-bush-and-his-administration-embarked-on-a-full-scale-assault/)

[Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/)

> [Sexual assault and domestic violence are difficult things to talk about. Talk about them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/sexual-assault-and-domestic-violence-are-difficult-things-to-talk/)

[Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/)

> [One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/one-s-own-self-worth-is-tied-to-the-worth-of-the-community-to-which/)

[Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/)

> [Where do find the most persecuted Christians in the world?... in the classrooms of our government schools, where the assault is not upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/where-do-find-the-most-persecuted-christians-in-the-world-in-the/)

[Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/)

> [The present assault upon capital is but the beginning. It will be but a stepping-stone to others, larger and more sweeping, till our political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-present-assault-upon-capital-is-but-the-beginning-it-will-be-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 565 Assault quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assault/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I report the assault on nature evidenced in coal mining that tears the tops off mountains and dumps them into rivers, sacrificing the health and lives of those in the river valleys to short-term profit, and I see a link between that process and the stock-market frenzy which scorns long-term investments-genuine savings-in favor of quick turnovers and speculative bubbles whose inevitable bursting leaves insiders with stuffed pockets and millions of small stockholders, pensioners, and employees out of work, out of luck, and out of hope.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bill Moyers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced-in-coal-mining-that-tears/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Assault"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced-in-coal-mining-that-tears/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/bill-moyers-2625_assault_i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced_2483931.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I report the assault on nature evidenced in coal mining that tears the tops off mountains and dumps them…” — Bill Moyers",
                "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 Moyers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I report the assault on nature...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced-in-coal-mining-that-tears/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/i-report-the-assault-on-nature-evidenced-in-coal-mining-that-tears/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
