Buying Quote by Denis Hayes
“The more subtle thing is more speculative. The world is well past its long-term carrying capacity for human beings living a European, much less an American, lifestyle predicated on planned obsolescence. International economic growth is largely a matter of accelerated movement of materials from mines and forests to the dump. Instead of saving and buying decent furniture we can pass on to our children, we charge our credit cards for shaped heaps of sawdust and glue that fall apart in less than three or four years.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Environmental Address, 1990
Excessive consumption exceeds Earth’s capacity, leading to waste and ecological strain.
In simple terms: We consume beyond what Earth can sustain.
Key Takeaway
Reduce, reuse, and repair.
Themes
environment
consumption
sustainability
economics
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
activist
inspirational
When to use this quote
- household budgeting
- product design
- urban planning
Key Concepts
ecology
planned obsolescence
resource depletion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you extend product lifespans?
- What policies could curb planned obsolescence?
A Different Perspective
Changing habits is difficult due to convenience.
![“Only one rational path is open to us - simultaneous de-development of the [overdeveloped countries] and semi-development of the underdeveloped countries (UDCs), in order to approach a decent and ecologically sustainable standard of living for all in between. By de-development we mean lower…” quote by John Holdren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0c4/john-holdren-23470_abolition_only-one-rational-path-is-open-to-us-sim_2290483.jpg)
