--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Understanding is becoming aware of the…" description: "\"Understanding is becoming aware of the fact that civilization itself is in trouble and we have done it by overpopulating the planet, and by moving towa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/edgar-mitchell-6104_approach_understanding-is-becoming-aware-of-the-f_1772323.png" --- # Understanding is becoming aware of the fact that… ![“Understanding is becoming aware of the fact that civilization itself is in trouble and we have done it by overpopulating the planet, and by moving toward self-service and greed. These sort of things are directly the wrong approach.” quote by Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/edgar-mitchell-6104_approach_understanding-is-becoming-aware-of-the-f_1772323.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/edgar-mitchell-6104_approach_understanding-is-becoming-aware-of-the-f_1772323.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa7/edgar-mitchell-6104_approach_understanding-is-becoming-aware-of-the-f_1772323.png) > “Understanding is becoming aware of the fact that civilization itself is in trouble and we have done it by overpopulating the planet, and by moving toward self-service and greed. These sort of things are directly the wrong approach.” [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human civilization is endangered by overpopulation and selfish self‑service, which are misguided strategies. **In simple terms:** Civilization is in danger due to too many people and greed. Key Takeaway Address overpopulation and curb greed. Themes environment civilization population greed self‑service Mood concerned urgent Type analytical warning When to use this quote - policy making - education - community planning - resource management Key Concepts sustainability ethical responsibility systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can societies shift from self‑service to collective stewardship? - What policies effectively limit population growth without infringing rights? A Different Perspective Changing human nature is difficult and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-trouble-1790170/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Overpopulating Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overpopulating-planet-1790169/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-service/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [I'm stranded all alone in the gas station of love, and I have to use the self service pump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-stranded-all-alone-in-the-gas-station-of-love-and-i-have-to-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you do the right thing, but not to any particular person, we instinctively feel that we have earned some sort of pay back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-baggini/when-you-do-the-right-thing-but-not-to-any-particular-person-we/) [Julian Baggini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-baggini/) > [“ads and popups in favor of minimally intrusive, context-sensitive, consumer-friendly text advertising. 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We have become a self-service populace, and all our specious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-ruin-of-the-human-heart-is-self-interest-which-the-american/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [Sex is like a gas station, sometimes you get full service, sometimes you gotta ask for service and sometimes you have to be happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sex-is-like-a-gas-station-sometimes-you-get-full-service-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I went to a massage parlor, it was self service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-went-to-a-massage-parlor-it-was-self-service/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [We use similar products. Our focus industry is healthcare and hospitality. But we haven?t done anything interactive. The first day full of seminars is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/we-use-similar-products-our-focus-industry-is-healthcare-and/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) ## More by Edgar Mitchell > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Our success and our understanding is that all beings are right inside, the deeper we go inside ourselves. 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All we need to ask is where do they come from, and what do they want?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-all-know-that-ufos-are-real-all-we-need-to-ask-is-where-do-they/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Undoubtedly we will go on to Mars in due course, provided we don't blow ourselves up with our stupidities in the short run. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/undoubtedly-we-will-go-on-to-mars-in-due-course-provided-we-don-t/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [The quantum hologram is a mechanism to explain this concept of the ancients of the Akashic Records. 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