--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that can save us as a…" description: "\"The only thing that can save us as a species is seeing how we're not thinking about future generations in the way we live.\" — Erik Erikson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/erik-erikson-12932_about_the-only-thing-that-can-save-us-as-a-spe_2867554.jpg" --- # The only thing that can save us as a species is seeing how… ![“The only thing that can save us as a species is seeing how we're not thinking about future generations in the way we live.” quote by Erik Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/erik-erikson-12932_about_the-only-thing-that-can-save-us-as-a-spe_2867554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/erik-erikson-12932_about_the-only-thing-that-can-save-us-as-a-spe_2867554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/21a/erik-erikson-12932_about_the-only-thing-that-can-save-us-as-a-spe_2867554.jpg) > “The only thing that can save us as a species is seeing how we're not thinking about future generations in the way we live.” [Erik Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-erikson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future generations are neglected when current lifestyles ignore long‑term impacts. **In simple terms:** Ignoring future harms us. Key Takeaway Plan for future generations. Themes sustainability legacy ethics Mood concerned motivated Type ethical forward‑looking When to use this quote - policy making - education - urban planning - family decisions Key Concepts intergenerational justice environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do we have to future generations? - How can we shift current habits? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-generations/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Generations Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations-way-1807212/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Save](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save/) [Save Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-species-721792/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [The only thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-only-thing/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-future/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I am a human being. I started out with virtually nothing. I worked my way up like so many businesspeople have and made ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/i-am-a-human-being-i-started-out-with-virtually-nothing-i-worked-my/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) > [It's animal by animal that you save a species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/it-s-animal-by-animal-that-you-save-a-species/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [“As we age, we are bound to find comfort from the notion that it takes generations for a way of life to fade. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/and-yet-there-s-other-species-even-closer-to-zero-i-know-that-and-i/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [We have a moral responsibility to save wild places like the arctic refuge for future generations, and that is why our country has remained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-capps/we-have-a-moral-responsibility-to-save-wild-places-like-the-arctic/) [Lois Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-capps/) > [I just love when the Internet is wrong. 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