Climate Quote by Herman E. Daly
“Environmental degradation is an iatrogenic disease induced by economic physicians who treat the basic malady of unlimited wants by prescribing unlimited growth… Yet one certainly does not cure a treatment-induced disease by increasing the treatment dosage.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Steady State Economics, Herman E. Daly, 1977
Economic growth driven by endless consumption harms ecosystems, creating a self‑inflicted environmental illness that cannot be healed by more growth.
In simple terms: Unlimited growth worsens environmental disease.
Key Takeaway
Reduce consumption, pursue sustainable policies.
Themes
environment
economics
health
sustainability
Mood
concerned
critical
Type
analytical
persuasive
When to use this quote
- policy making
- business strategy
- personal lifestyle choices
Key Concepts
externalities
systemic risk
resource limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How can economies thrive without endless expansion?
- What alternatives replace growth‑centric models?
A Different Perspective
Growth alone cannot fix ecological damage.
