Accounts Quote by Frederick Soddy
“In so far as such developments utilise the natural energy running to waste, as in water power, they may be accounted as pure gain. But in so far as they consume the fuel resources of the globe they are very different. The one is like spending the interest on a legacy, and the other is like spending the legacy itself. ... [There is] a still hardly recognised coming energy problem.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Economics of Exhaustion, 1935
He contrasts renewable energy, which adds value like interest, with fossil fuels that deplete the original capital, warning of an emerging energy crisis.
In simple terms: Renewables add value; fossil fuels deplete resources.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize sustainable energy sources.
Themes
energy economics
resource depletion
renewables
Mood
analytical
cautionary
Type
economic
environmental
When to use this quote
- energy policy
- investment decisions
- public awareness
Key Concepts
sustainability
environmental policy
industrial planning
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies shift from depletion to renewal?
- What incentives encourage renewable investment?
A Different Perspective
Transition costs and political resistance can hinder adoption.
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