--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the environmental movement, every time…" description: "\"In the environmental movement, every time you lose a battle it's for good, but our victories always seem to be temporary and we keep fighting them over..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png" --- # In the environmental movement, every time you lose a… ![“In the environmental movement, every time you lose a battle it's for good, but our victories always seem to be temporary and we keep fighting them over and over again.” quote by David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png) > “In the environmental movement, every time you lose a battle it's for good, but our victories always seem to be temporary and we keep fighting them over and over again.” [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. Environmental victories are fleeting, requiring persistent effort despite setbacks. **In simple terms:** Environmental gains are temporary, need ongoing fight. Key Takeaway Stay resilient and keep advocating. Themes environment activism perseverance Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - climate policy - grassroots campaigns - legal battles Key Concepts sustainability political inertia Questions to Reflect On - What keeps you motivated after setbacks? - How can we turn temporary wins into lasting change? A Different Perspective Short‑term wins can lead to complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-movement/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Given continued high rates of population increase, all environmental victories are temporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-w-horton/given-continued-high-rates-of-population-increase-all-environmental/) Thomas W. Horton > [“We do not often get to declare victories, Natch, and most of them do not remain victories for very long. Ultimately when you reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-louis-edelman/we-do-not-often-get-to-declare-victories-natch-and-most-of-them-do/) David Louis Edelman > [I always felt that if someone shot me, it would be great for the environmental movement, because they would make me a martyr. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/i-always-felt-that-if-someone-shot-me-it-would-be-great-for-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [I think that the environmental movement is wisely moving away from a largely emotion-based argument for the spiritual or intrinsic value of Nature with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-think-that-the-environmental-movement-is-wisely-moving-away-from-a/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I think Captain Cousteau might be the father of the environmental movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/i-think-captain-cousteau-might-be-the-father-of-the-environmental/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [I've been there for so many crossroads in American history. My whole political life spans the birth of the environmental movement, the women's movement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/i-ve-been-there-for-so-many-crossroads-in-american-history-my-whole/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [While there are many who would say that the race to the moon was hardly green, many others have noted that the photographs brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/while-there-are-many-who-would-say-that-the-race-to-the-moon-was/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [That's the big mistake the environmental movement made - 'We'll scare the hell out of you, and you'll become an activist'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/that-s-the-big-mistake-the-environmental-movement-made-we-ll-scare/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [In less than a century we experienced great movement. The youth movement! The labor movement! The civil rights movement! The peace movement! The solidarity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-near/in-less-than-a-century-we-experienced-great-movement-the-youth/) [Holly Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-near/) > [What we know is that the environmental movement had a series of dazzling victories in the late '60s and in the '70s where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/what-we-know-is-that-the-environmental-movement-had-a-series-of/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [We have endorsements of our plan from key leaders within the environmental movement. That doesn't mean that it includes the whole environmental movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-notley/we-have-endorsements-of-our-plan-from-key-leaders-within-the/) [Rachel Notley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-notley/) > [Why is Earth Day, today, also Lenin's birthday? Coincidence? Or does it signal the true intent of the national and worldwide environmental movement?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-caruba/why-is-earth-day-today-also-lenin-s-birthday-coincidence-or-does-it/) Alan Caruba > [The environmental movement, like all political processes, reacts best to disasters. But these are very slow, very gradual disasters in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/the-environmental-movement-like-all-political-processes-reacts-best/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I think the environmental movement is the biggest people's movement in the world. Unfortunately, our governments and corporations haven't responded accordingly to protect our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-think-the-environmental-movement-is-the-biggest-people-s-movement/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [“You're not defeated when you lose a battle. You are defeated when you give up the struggle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/you-re-not-defeated-when-you-lose-a-battle-you-are-defeated-when-you/) [Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/) ## 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 Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the environmental movement, every time you lose a battle it's for good, but our victories always seem to be temporary and we keep fighting them over and over again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Suzuki" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/in-the-environmental-movement-every-time-you-lose-a-battle-it-s-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/in-the-environmental-movement-every-time-you-lose-a-battle-it-s-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/david-suzuki-1744_battle_in-the-environmental-movement-every-time_2393682.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the environmental movement, every time you lose a battle it's for good, but our victories always seem to…” — 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": "In the environmental movement, every time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/in-the-environmental-movement-every-time-you-lose-a-battle-it-s-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/in-the-environmental-movement-every-time-you-lose-a-battle-it-s-for/#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 } } ] } ```