--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we continue to set human borders and…" description: "\"If we continue to set human borders and the economy as our highest priorities, we will never come to grips with the destructiveness of our activities a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg" --- # If we continue to set human borders and the economy as our… ![“If we continue to set human borders and the economy as our highest priorities, we will never come to grips with the destructiveness of our activities and institutions.” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg) > “If we continue to set human borders and the economy as our highest priorities, we will never come to grips with the destructiveness of our activities and institutions.” [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing borders and economy blinds us to environmental harm, preventing true understanding of our impact. **In simple terms:** Focusing on borders and profit hides ecological damage. Key Takeaway Recognize and address ecological costs. Themes environment economy awareness policy sustainability Mood concerned urgent reflective Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - corporate strategy - community activism - educational curricula Key Concepts systems thinking ecological ethics global interdependence Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance economic needs with ecological health? - What policies could integrate environmental costs? A Different Perspective Economic growth alone cannot solve ecological crises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) ## Related quotes > [But human borders mean nothing to air, water, windblown soil or seeds or migrating fish, birds or mammals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/but-human-borders-mean-nothing-to-air-water-windblown-soil-or-seeds/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The cybersecurity of our nation will be one of my highest priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-cybersecurity-of-our-nation-will-be-one-of-my-highest-priorities/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [Public health and safety are my highest priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-brown/public-health-and-safety-are-my-highest-priorities/) [Kate Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-brown/) > [One of my highest priorities as an educator is to be as inclusive as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/one-of-my-highest-priorities-as-an-educator-is-to-be-as-inclusive-as/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [Women's health is one of WHO's highest priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gro-harlem-brundtland/women-s-health-is-one-of-who-s-highest-priorities/) [Gro Harlem Brundtland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gro-harlem-brundtland/) > [Port Security is one of our weakest security links, and it must be one of our highest priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-meek/port-security-is-one-of-our-weakest-security-links-and-it-must-be-one/) [Kendrick Meek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-meek/) > [“As the generations pass they grow worse. A time will come when they have grown so wicked that they will worship power; might will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-myth-on-the-iron-age/as-the-generations-pass-they-grow-worse-a-time-will-come-when-they/) Greek myth on the Iron Age > [Insight doesn't necessarily produce self-control. Sometimes you just see your destructiveness more clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ablow/insight-doesn-t-necessarily-produce-self-control-sometimes-you-just/) [Keith Ablow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ablow/) > [To hate destructiveness, one must hate life as well: only death is an image of undistorted life ... organic life is an illness peculiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/to-hate-destructiveness-one-must-hate-life-as-well-only-death-is-an/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [Only the liberation of the natural capacity for love in human beings can master their sadistic destructiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/only-the-liberation-of-the-natural-capacity-for-love-in-human-beings/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [Wars between states and people seem to have existed under all historical systems for as long as we have some recorded evidence. War is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-wallerstein/wars-between-states-and-people-seem-to-have-existed-under-all/) [Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) > [I have known war as few men now living know it. It's very destructiveness on both friend and foe has rendered it useless as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-have-known-war-as-few-men-now-living-know-it-it-s-very/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The perspective of Love doesn't leave anybody out. Until your vision and compassion is big enough to include those who oppose you, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-perspective-of-love-doesn-t-leave-anybody-out-until-your-vision/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“In relation to the natural world, the pleasure of Americans can be destructive in the same way that their work has already proved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/in-relation-to-the-natural-world-the-pleasure-of-americans-can-be/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/men-since-the-beginning-of-time-have-sought-peace-military-alliances/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) ## More by David Suzuki > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Over and over, we hear politicians say they can't spend our tax dollars on environmental protection when the economy is so fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/over-and-over-we-hear-politicians-say-they-can-t-spend-our-tax/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Aboriginal people are key because they have a different sense of where we belong and how we interact with nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/aboriginal-people-are-key-because-they-have-a-different-sense-of/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/treaties-agreements-and-organizations-to-help-settle-disputes-may-be/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Each of us now has 2.27 kg (5 lbs) of plastic embedded in our bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/each-of-us-now-has-2-27-kg-5-lbs-of-plastic-embedded-in-our-bodies/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Nature surrounds us, from parks and backyards to streets and alleyways. Next time you go out for a walk, tread gently and remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/nature-surrounds-us-from-parks-and-backyards-to-streets-and-alleyways/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The human brain had a vast memory storage. It made us curious and very creative. Those were the characteristics that gave us an advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-human-brain-had-a-vast-memory-storage-it-made-us-curious-and-very/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-pollute-the-air-water-and-soil-that-keep-us-alive-and-well-and/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [The one thing I feel is very hopeful, however, is the overwhelming participation of women in the movement for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-one-thing-i-feel-is-very-hopeful-however-is-the-overwhelming/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“As we distance ourselves further from the natural world, we are increasingly surrounded by and dependent on our own inventions. We become enslaved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/as-we-distance-ourselves-further-from-the-natural-world-we-are/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our link with our ancestors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/every-breath-is-a-sacrament-an-affirmation-of-our-connection-with-all/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/with-an-estimated-population-of-nine-billion-people-by-2050-we-cannot/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Although it's the second largest country in the world, our useful area has been reduced. Our immigration policy is disgusting: We plunder southern countries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/although-it-s-the-second-largest-country-in-the-world-our-useful-area/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [Environmentalism has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/environmentalism-has-failed/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) [Explore all 212 David Suzuki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we continue to set human borders and the economy as our highest priorities, we will never come to grips with the destructiveness of our activities and institutions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Suzuki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and-the-economy-as-our-highest/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and-the-economy-as-our-highest/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/david-suzuki-1744_activity_if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and_3146244.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we continue to set human borders and the economy as our highest priorities, we will never come to grips…” — David Suzuki", "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": "David Suzuki", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we continue to set human...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and-the-economy-as-our-highest/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-continue-to-set-human-borders-and-the-economy-as-our-highest/#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 } } ] } ```