--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I argue that I don't think it's a moral…" description: "\"I argue that I don't think it's a moral position to say that civilization is going to collapse, and that's okay. Because that would cause the deaths of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/margaret-d-klein-29800_accepting_i-argue-that-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-moral_2995546.jpg" --- # I argue that I don't think it's a moral position to say… ![“I argue that I don't think it's a moral position to say that civilization is going to collapse, and that's okay. Because that would cause the deaths of billions of people. It's certainly not something I'm willing to accept.” quote by Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/margaret-d-klein-29800_accepting_i-argue-that-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-moral_2995546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/margaret-d-klein-29800_accepting_i-argue-that-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-moral_2995546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/margaret-d-klein-29800_accepting_i-argue-that-i-don-t-think-it-s-a-moral_2995546.jpg) > “I argue that I don't think it's a moral position to say that civilization is going to collapse, and that's okay. Because that would cause the deaths of billions of people. It's certainly not something I'm willing to accept.” [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Denial of civilization collapse is a moral stance that avoids confronting catastrophic consequences, yet acceptance is essential for action. **In simple terms:** Accepting risk is moral responsibility. Key Takeaway Acknowledge collapse risk. Themes ethics environment future Mood concerned urgent Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - government planning - public awareness - disaster preparedness Key Concepts philosophy climate science policy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prepare without fear? - What ethical duties arise from climate risk? A Different Perspective Accepting collapse may cause panic; balanced response needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Collapse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collapse/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [One of the problems with industrialism is that it's based on the premise of more and more. 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This requires domains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/i-think-civilization-is-going-to-get-to-a-point-where-we-suddenly/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) ## More by Margaret D. Klein > [Climate change is the sine qua non of continued civilization. We either solve this, or it's lights out. Turning into a collective like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/climate-change-is-the-sine-qua-non-of-continued-civilization-we/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [With climate change, of course there are things to grieve. I certainly grieved that the vision that I had for my life, that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/with-climate-change-of-course-there-are-things-to-grieve-i-certainly/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [Climate change has been associated so much with a peaceful mentality - obviously peace and love are good, but we need to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/climate-change-has-been-associated-so-much-with-a-peaceful-mentality/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [While the American people have the impression that scientists are hard at work figuring out this complex matter of climate change, it's not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/while-the-american-people-have-the-impression-that-scientists-are/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [Online petitions are built around getting as many signatures as possible. But the experience of taking them and forgetting about them degrades the importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/online-petitions-are-built-around-getting-as-many-signatures-as/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [Psychologically speaking, the rational, healthy response to climate change is to say to oneself, "What can I do about this?" But that question is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/psychologically-speaking-the-rational-healthy-response-to-climate/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [Taking fear seriously is not easy. A lot of people's response to fear is "Don't worry so much, it's crazy." But some things absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/taking-fear-seriously-is-not-easy-a-lot-of-people-s-response-to-fear/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [There are a lot of reasons people don't talk about climate change. One of them has to do with the language of science, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/there-are-a-lot-of-reasons-people-don-t-talk-about-climate-change-one/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [I used to be a lot more afraid of climate change. Now I spend my time working, planning, trying to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/i-used-to-be-a-lot-more-afraid-of-climate-change-now-i-spend-my-time/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [I think 99% of climate scientists would agree that we need to reduce emissions as quickly as possible, and then begin removing greenhouse gasses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/i-think-99-of-climate-scientists-would-agree-that-we-need-to-reduce/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [Social movements throughout history take place in people's minds. If we got 5,000 Americans who were talking about climate change to their neighbors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/social-movements-throughout-history-take-place-in-people-s-minds-if/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [I think it's very important to invite and encourage people to talk about climate change who have a lay understanding. In general, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-invite-and-encourage-people-to-talk/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [By looking the other way on climate change we facilitate a collective denial, and we do it for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/by-looking-the-other-way-on-climate-change-we-facilitate-a-collective/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [The problem is so severe that trying to say, "First we'll fix the government and then we'll tackle climate change," or, "First we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/the-problem-is-so-severe-that-trying-to-say-first-we-ll-fix-the/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) > [My grandmother is a Holocaust survivor. Some heroes of mine have long been the Jewish Partisans, these young people who just went into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-klein/my-grandmother-is-a-holocaust-survivor-some-heroes-of-mine-have-long/) [Margaret D. Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) [Explore all 18 Margaret D. Klein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-klein/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. 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