--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know what we have to do. And we know…" description: "\"We know what we have to do. And we know how to do it. If we fail to convert our self-destructing economy into one that is environmentally sustainable, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/lester-r-brown-14706_children_we-know-what-we-have-to-do-and-we-know-h_2260424.jpg" --- # We know what we have to do. And we know how to do it. If… ![“We know what we have to do. And we know how to do it. If we fail to convert our self-destructing economy into one that is environmentally sustainable, future generations will be overwhelmed by environmental degradation and social disintegration. Simply stated, if our generation does not turn…” quote by Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/lester-r-brown-14706_children_we-know-what-we-have-to-do-and-we-know-h_2260424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/lester-r-brown-14706_children_we-know-what-we-have-to-do-and-we-know-h_2260424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/198/lester-r-brown-14706_children_we-know-what-we-have-to-do-and-we-know-h_2260424.jpg) > “We know what we have to do. And we know how to do it. If we fail to convert our self-destructing economy into one that is environmentally sustainable, future generations will be overwhelmed by environmental degradation and social disintegration. Simply stated, if our generation does not turn things around, our children may not have the option of doing so.” [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If we don’t shift to a sustainable economy, environmental collapse and social breakdown will threaten future generations. **In simple terms:** Unsustainable economy harms future generations. Key Takeaway Act now for sustainability. Themes environment economy future generations social stability sustainability Mood urgent concerned determined Type warning call to action When to use this quote - policy making - business strategy - community planning - education curricula - investment decisions Key Concepts Ecological economics intergenerational justice systemic risk Questions to Reflect On - What policies can accelerate a green economy? - How can individuals influence systemic change? A Different Perspective Transition requires massive political will and cultural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Degradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degradation/) [Disintegration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disintegration/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental degradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-degradation/) [Future generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-generation/) [Future generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-generations/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Our generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-generation/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Sustainability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustainability/) ## Related quotes > [Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution, the first waves of modern invention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/those-who-came-before-us-made-certain-that-this-country-rode-the/) [John F. 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Brown > [The challenge is either to build an economy that is sustainable or to stay with our unsustainable economy until it declines. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/the-challenge-is-either-to-build-an-economy-that-is-sustainable-or-to/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [A sustainable economy represents nothing less than a higher social order one as concerned with future generations as with our own, and more focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/a-sustainable-economy-represents-nothing-less-than-a-higher-social/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [We are witnessing the beginning of one of the great tragedies of history. The United States, in a misguided effort to reduce its oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/we-are-witnessing-the-beginning-of-one-of-the-great-tragedies-of/) [Lester R. 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