--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Relative to most of the energy and…" description: "\"Relative to most of the energy and material flows on Earth, the machinations of humankind are puny. The planet's powers are much, much bigger than our ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/donella-meadows-9060_bigger_relative-to-most-of-the-energy-and-mater_3105000.png" --- # Relative to most of the energy and material flows on… ![“Relative to most of the energy and material flows on Earth, the machinations of humankind are puny. The planet's powers are much, much bigger than our own. But in a few sensitive places, we're making an impact on a planetary scale, and that impact is not a good one.” quote by Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/donella-meadows-9060_bigger_relative-to-most-of-the-energy-and-mater_3105000.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/donella-meadows-9060_bigger_relative-to-most-of-the-energy-and-mater_3105000.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/226/donella-meadows-9060_bigger_relative-to-most-of-the-energy-and-mater_3105000.png) > “Relative to most of the energy and material flows on Earth, the machinations of humankind are puny. The planet's powers are much, much bigger than our own. But in a few sensitive places, we're making an impact on a planetary scale, and that impact is not a good one.” [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human activity is minuscule compared to Earth’s forces, yet our impact can be globally harmful. **In simple terms:** We’re tiny but can cause big damage. Key Takeaway Reduce harmful footprints. Themes environment scale impact sustainability Mood cautionary urgent Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - industrial policy - energy production - deforestation - climate change Key Concepts systems thinking planetary boundaries Questions to Reflect On - What actions can individuals take? - How can policies align with planetary health? A Different Perspective Economic growth often conflicts with environmental limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Machinations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-machinations-5397826/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Few](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few/) [Flows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flows/) [Flows Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flows-earth-5397827/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Making An Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-an-impact/) [Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/places/) [Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet/) [Planet Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet-powers-5116937/) [Planetary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planetary/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) [Relative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relative/) [Scale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scale/) [Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) ## Related quotes > [We are creatures of the earth and live on this planet through the powers of the sun and moon and through all facets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moa-kikuchi/we-are-creatures-of-the-earth-and-live-on-this-planet-through-the/) [Moa Kikuchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moa-kikuchi/) > [With music I get to feel real ownership with what I do. I write it, I perform it and even if it is crap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/with-music-i-get-to-feel-real-ownership-with-what-i-do-i-write-it-i/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [In this business, it is about making an impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-orton/in-this-business-it-is-about-making-an-impact/) [Randy Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-orton/) > [Fortinet was founded in 2000 with the goal of making an impactful change in the network security space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-xie/fortinet-was-founded-in-2000-with-the-goal-of-making-an-impactful/) [Ken Xie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-xie/) > [Actually, guest star roles are really hard. Since you have to walk into a show where the cast has been working together for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-badler/actually-guest-star-roles-are-really-hard-since-you-have-to-walk-into/) [Jane Badler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-badler/) > [What is important is the character that I play. Making an impact is far more important than the length of the role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-dhupia/what-is-important-is-the-character-that-i-play-making-an-impact-is/) [Neha Dhupia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-dhupia/) > [I like tackling problems that I can see making an impact on real people and real businesses immediately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-priebatsch/i-like-tackling-problems-that-i-can-see-making-an-impact-on-real/) [Seth Priebatsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-priebatsch/) > [Everybody we meet has an influence on us and an impact - good or bad. And I think that's why we have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/everybody-we-meet-has-an-influence-on-us-and-an-impact-good-or-bad/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) > [At a relatively early age, I began to believe that building a business was perhaps the greatest opportunity for making an impact, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/at-a-relatively-early-age-i-began-to-believe-that-building-a-business/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) > [In every school, community center, city hall, and state capitol, there are women who are making their voices heard and standing up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/in-every-school-community-center-city-hall-and-state-capitol-there/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [I want to change the pop world one sequin at a time. Artists tend to take themselves way too seriously and don't enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-want-to-change-the-pop-world-one-sequin-at-a-time-artists-tend-to/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [“Not Taking NO Personally Here’s my take on the fear of rejection: It’s a sign that you’re placing a higher value on your fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fenton/not-taking-no-personally-here-s-my-take-on-the-fear-of-rejection-it-s/) [Richard Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fenton/) > [I'm driven by making an impact on the individuals I interact with and leveraging my success to give back to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/i-m-driven-by-making-an-impact-on-the-individuals-i-interact-with-and/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [Giving, making an impact on people is something I definitely got from my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriella-wilson/giving-making-an-impact-on-people-is-something-i-definitely-got-from/) [Gabriella Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriella-wilson/) > [At the end of the day, the Grammys are about recognizing genres that are making an impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-grammys-are-about-recognizing-genres-that/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) ## More by Donella Meadows > [Ending poverty calls for humility, honesty, freedom from ideology and refusal to accept cruel simplicities about anyone's human potential. It requires listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/ending-poverty-calls-for-humility-honesty-freedom-from-ideology-and/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany have detailed plans to cut their greenhouse emissions by 20 to 50 percent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/denmark-the-netherlands-and-germany-have-detailed-plans-to-cut-their/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [A grand jury hears only one side - that of the prosecutor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/a-grand-jury-hears-only-one-side-that-of-the-prosecutor/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [What Clinton did with Lewinsky was despicable but was no threat to the nation. That he lied about it repeatedly and to the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/what-clinton-did-with-lewinsky-was-despicable-but-was-no-threat-to/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Why is our (US) government the only one in the civilized world with a stupid, short-term energy policy? Why do our elected officials consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/why-is-our-us-government-the-only-one-in-the-civilized-world-with-a/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Before they got vengeful, conservatives had some useful points to make about welfare. Government 'help' is too often guilt-assuaging gesture. It creates layers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/before-they-got-vengeful-conservatives-had-some-useful-points-to-make/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Social services, not wealth per se, seem to be the key to lower birth rates. The Chinese, although among the poorest peoples of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/social-services-not-wealth-per-se-seem-to-be-the-key-to-lower-birth/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [You should issue demerits for tree cutting or the destruction of humus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/you-should-issue-demerits-for-tree-cutting-or-the-destruction-of-humus/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [A good leader sets the right goals, gets things moving, and helps us to discover that we already know what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/a-good-leader-sets-the-right-goals-gets-things-moving-and-helps-us-to/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [The latest scientific assessment has almost doubled the predicted rate of warming if no changes are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/the-latest-scientific-assessment-has-almost-doubled-the-predicted/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Some call-in moderators are neutral and courteous. Then there's Rush Limbaugh, who is funny and pompous and a scapegoater and hatemonger. His popularity could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/some-call-in-moderators-are-neutral-and-courteous-then-there-s-rush/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Smart development builds on a region's own skills, resources and local businesses. Dumb growth invites a big corporation in, surrenders control and profits to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/smart-development-builds-on-a-region-s-own-skills-resources-and-local/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [Glaciers are almost gone from Glacier National Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/glaciers-are-almost-gone-from-glacier-national-park/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [I call the transformed world toward which we can move ‘sustainable,’ by which I mean a great deal more than a world that merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/i-call-the-transformed-world-toward-which-we-can-move-sustainable-by/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [We can't control systems or figure them out. But we can dance with them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/we-can-t-control-systems-or-figure-them-out-but-we-can-dance-with-them/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) [Explore all 75 Donella Meadows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) ## More Bigger quotes > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [I just think structure can make a book feel so much bigger. It's the architecture. You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes people can write really great scenes and even a great episode, but they can't see the bigger picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/sometimes-people-can-write-really-great-scenes-and-even-a-great/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [If you consider yourself a part of the culture, then finances can't allow you to be bigger than the actual art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/if-you-consider-yourself-a-part-of-the-culture-then-finances-can-t/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. 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And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) [Browse all 3,614 Bigger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Relative to most of the energy and material flows on Earth, the machinations of humankind are puny. The planet's powers are much, much bigger than our own. 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