--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't take a genius to pump up the…" description: "\"It doesn't take a genius to pump up the GNP [of a developing country] by burning down rainforests, using slave labor and social repression to keep thin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/hazel-henderson-31097_burning_it-doesn-t-take-a-genius-to-pump-up-the_2340748.png" --- # It doesn't take a genius to pump up the GNP \[of a… ![“It doesn't take a genius to pump up the GNP [of a developing country] by burning down rainforests, using slave labor and social repression to keep things in place.” quote by Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/hazel-henderson-31097_burning_it-doesn-t-take-a-genius-to-pump-up-the_2340748.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/hazel-henderson-31097_burning_it-doesn-t-take-a-genius-to-pump-up-the_2340748.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/hazel-henderson-31097_burning_it-doesn-t-take-a-genius-to-pump-up-the_2340748.png) > “It doesn't take a genius to pump up the GNP \[of a developing country\] by burning down rainforests, using slave labor and social repression to keep things in place.” [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic growth driven by environmental destruction and exploitation is unsustainable and morally flawed. **In simple terms:** Growth via exploitation harms planet and people. Key Takeaway Choose sustainable development. Themes economics environment ethics development Mood urgent critical Type political environmental When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - education - activism Key Concepts sustainability social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can economies grow without harming nature? - What policies balance profit and planet? A Different Perspective Short-term gains often ignore long-term costs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning/) [Burning Rainforests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning-rainforests-5663314/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-burning-5663316/) [Developing countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-countries/) [Developing Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-country-293810/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Pumps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pumps/) [Rainforest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainforest/) [Rainforests Using](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rainforests-using-5663315/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-labor/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [China is still a developing country with a myriad of tasks and challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/china-is-still-a-developing-country-with-a-myriad-of-tasks-and/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [The Unites States is the largest developed country. Canada enjoys a flourishing economy and advanced technology. Mexico is an important developing country. China attaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-zhaoxing/the-unites-states-is-the-largest-developed-country-canada-enjoys-a/) [Li Zhaoxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-zhaoxing/) > [For a developing country, average long-run growth of 5 percent a year per capita is excellent, and 7 percent is stellar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/for-a-developing-country-average-long-run-growth-of-5-percent-a-year/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [It may not be replicable: One of the hardest transition that a developing country can make is the transition to middle-class status. Governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-morris/it-may-not-be-replicable-one-of-the-hardest-transition-that-a/) [Charles R. 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Staff in these offices need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chan/who-has-a-country-office-in-nearly-every-developing-country-usually/) [Margaret Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chan/) > [It is a contradiction to support increased development assistance, yet turn a blind eye to actions by multinationals anothers that undermine the tax base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-manuel/it-is-a-contradiction-to-support-increased-development-assistance-yet/) [Trevor Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-manuel/) > [At the same time, we are keenly aware that China is still the largest developing country in the world and we need to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-jintao/at-the-same-time-we-are-keenly-aware-that-china-is-still-the-largest/) [Hu Jintao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-jintao/) > [The true nature of bureaucracy may be nowhere more obvious to the observer than in a developing country, for only there will it still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-true-nature-of-bureaucracy-may-be-nowhere-more-obvious-to-the/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## More by Hazel Henderson > [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) > [patriarchal academic hierarchies in science and technology are now overspecialized and abstract, perhaps because they have systematically excluded women, as well as minorities, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/patriarchal-academic-hierarchies-in-science-and-technology-are-now/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) > [Don't wait for anyone to deputize you or authorize you or empower you. 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