--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rome wasn't built in a day, and we won't…" description: "\"Rome wasn't built in a day, and we won't replace fossil fuels with clean energy based on the events of a single week, either. But the important thing t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/michael-brune-51347_asthma_rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-we-won-t_1491999.png" --- # Rome wasn't built in a day, and we won't replace fossil… ![“Rome wasn't built in a day, and we won't replace fossil fuels with clean energy based on the events of a single week, either. But the important thing to remember is that, once they happen, clean energy victories are irreversible. No one will tear down wind farms because they are nostalgic for…” quote by Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/michael-brune-51347_asthma_rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-we-won-t_1491999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/michael-brune-51347_asthma_rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-we-won-t_1491999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/michael-brune-51347_asthma_rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-we-won-t_1491999.png) > “Rome wasn't built in a day, and we won't replace fossil fuels with clean energy based on the events of a single week, either. But the important thing to remember is that, once they happen, clean energy victories are irreversible. No one will tear down wind farms because they are nostalgic for fracking in our watersheds. And nobody will pull down their solar panels because they miss having mercury in their tuna or asthma inhalers for their kids. Because once we leave fossil fuels behind, we are never going back.” [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transition to clean energy is irreversible once milestones are achieved, despite short‑term setbacks. **In simple terms:** Clean energy progress, permanent once started. Key Takeaway Support and celebrate clean energy wins. Themes environment energy policy resilience Mood determined optimistic Type inspirational activist When to use this quote - advocacy campaigns - community meetings - policy lobbying - media outreach Key Concepts Sustainability irreversibility public opinion Questions to Reflect On - How can we protect new clean energy projects from backlash? - What incentives keep momentum after early wins? A Different Perspective Opposition may stall momentum but cannot undo existing installations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asthma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/) [Clean energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-energy/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Farms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farms/) [Fossil fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuel/) [Fossil fuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuels/) [Fracking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fracking/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercury/) [Nostalgic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgic/) [Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rome/) [Solar panels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-panels/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Watersheds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watersheds/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [Wind farms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind-farms/) ## Related quotes > [Our point of view is, lets not be so elitist that we can't honor good, hard, dignified, ennobling work: people working with their hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/our-point-of-view-is-lets-not-be-so-elitist-that-we-can-t-honor-good/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [And in the process, we have come up with fuels - algae-based fuels, isobutanol-based fuels and other fuels - that we think will power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/and-in-the-process-we-have-come-up-with-fuels-algae-based-fuels/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [The disaster in the gulf shows: relying on dangerous, dirty fuels can at times impose incalculable costs. I have never heard of a wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/the-disaster-in-the-gulf-shows-relying-on-dangerous-dirty-fuels-can/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [ \[Wind energy\] takes a very large footprint on the land, five to 10 times what you'd use for nuclear, and typically to get one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-brand/wind-energy-takes-a-very-large-footprint-on-the-land-five-to-10-times/) [Stewart Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-brand/) > [Like environmentalists, politicians generally privilege flora and fauna over folks. (NIMBYs excepted. Senator Edward Kennedy is a not-in-my-backyard environmentalist: he opposes wind farms in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/like-environmentalists-politicians-generally-privilege-flora-and/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [I will do anything that is basically covered by the law to reduce Berkshire's tax rate. For example, on wind energy, we get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-will-do-anything-that-is-basically-covered-by-the-law-to-reduce/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [It is fundamentally crazy to build wind farms out at sea. But it works!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-tanti/it-is-fundamentally-crazy-to-build-wind-farms-out-at-sea-but-it-works/) [Tulsi Tanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-tanti/) > [Renewables need to be developed in an environmentally responsible way. And, you know, I frankly have heard criticisms from even environmentalists saying that some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/renewables-need-to-be-developed-in-an-environmentally-responsible-way/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [I believe we are deluded about alternative energy. The key is, whatever we do, we're going to have to do on a very modest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-believe-we-are-deluded-about-alternative-energy-the-key-is-whatever/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [The foundation is being laid for the emergence of both wind and solar cells as cornerstones of the new energy economy. World wind generating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/the-foundation-is-being-laid-for-the-emergence-of-both-wind-and-solar/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [In the past, offshore wind farms have faced significant opposition in the United States for a few reasons: high costs, complicated rules about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/in-the-past-offshore-wind-farms-have-faced-significant-opposition-in/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [If solar and wind farms are needed to protect the natural environment, why do they so often destroy it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/if-solar-and-wind-farms-are-needed-to-protect-the-natural-environment/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [Anyone who thinks that wind factories are environmentally friendly should Google "Cefn Croes Photo Gallery", to see 100 chilling pictures showing how many miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-booker/anyone-who-thinks-that-wind-factories-are-environmentally-friendly/) [Christopher Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-booker/) > [Here's the thing, who cares what you have to look at, I'm a big advocate of not obscuring vistas, but even if you build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/here-s-the-thing-who-cares-what-you-have-to-look-at-i-m-a-big/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Rome wasn't built in a day, and the internet is our new Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/rome-wasn-t-built-in-a-day-and-the-internet-is-our-new-rome/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) ## More by Michael Brune > [Civil disobedience can help to focus attention on a particular injustice. It was used historically to highlight wrongs in society - turning ancient redwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/civil-disobedience-can-help-to-focus-attention-on-a-particular/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [We know how to get all of the energy we need without using dirty or dangerous fuel sources. It is no longer a question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/we-know-how-to-get-all-of-the-energy-we-need-without-using-dirty-or/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [Paradigm shifts aren't always obvious when you're in the middle of one. Danny Kennedy makes a compelling case for why solar power is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/paradigm-shifts-aren-t-always-obvious-when-you-re-in-the-middle-of/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [After an exhilarating whitewater ride through America's love-hate relationship with its rivers, Daniel McCool leaves us inspired and hopeful for a happy ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/after-an-exhilarating-whitewater-ride-through-america-s-love-hate/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [Inspired by John Muir's A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, John Davis walks, bikes, and kayaks on a 'voyage of recovery' from the Florida…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/inspired-by-john-muir-s-a-thousand-mile-walk-to-the-gulf-john-davis/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) > [Natural gas is not a bridge - it's a gangplank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brune/natural-gas-is-not-a-bridge-it-s-a-gangplank/) [Michael Brune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) [Explore all 7 Michael Brune quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brune/) ## More Asthma quotes > [I have no sex appeal, which kills me. The only way I can ever hear heavy breathing from my husband's side of the bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-have-no-sex-appeal-which-kills-me-the-only-way-i-can-ever-hear/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [As a child I had terrible asthma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/as-a-child-i-had-terrible-asthma/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [I've always had bronchitis. I've been administered the Sacrament of Death three times for it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/i-ve-always-had-bronchitis-i-ve-been-administered-the-sacrament-of/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [Ever since I was little, I've had an issue with breathing and my stamina, especially growing up as a dancer. It was thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-michelle/ever-since-i-was-little-i-ve-had-an-issue-with-breathing-and-my/) [Ava Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-michelle/) > [I had terrible ear problems and asthma and allergies. I spent quite a bit of time in hospital up to the age of eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/i-had-terrible-ear-problems-and-asthma-and-allergies-i-spent-quite-a/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [It's just so bizarre how in this world if you have asthma, you take asthma medication. If you have diabetes, you take diabetes medication.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/it-s-just-so-bizarre-how-in-this-world-if-you-have-asthma-you-take/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [I'm scared of him," said Piggy, "and that's why I know him. If you're scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-m-scared-of-him-said-piggy-and-that-s-why-i-know-him-if-you-re/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [I discovered the wife's got asthma. Thank God - I thought she was hissing at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-dawson/i-discovered-the-wife-s-got-asthma-thank-god-i-thought-she-was/) [Les Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-dawson/) > [My eyes were bad. I stuttered. I had hepatitis, double pneumonia, even anemia. When I was 7, my family took me on a trip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mercado/my-eyes-were-bad-i-stuttered-i-had-hepatitis-double-pneumonia-even/) [Walter Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mercado/) > [Mr. Vice President, the most fiscally conservative thing this government has ever done, is to invest massively in the green part of the recovery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/mr-vice-president-the-most-fiscally-conservative-thing-this/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I spent one night in the hospital in my life. I was past 75 when that occurred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-spent-one-night-in-the-hospital-in-my-life-i-was-past-75-when-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“I was the only boy in our school what had asthma," said the fat boy with a touch of pride. 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That was a one-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-had-my-appendix-out-when-i-was-11-and-that-was-the-last-time-i-was/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 163 Asthma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asthma/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rome wasn't built in a day, and we won't replace fossil fuels with clean energy based on the events of a single week, either. But the important thing to remember is that, once they happen, clean energy victories are irreversible. No one will tear down wind farms because they are nostalgic for fracking in our watersheds. And nobody will pull down their solar panels because they miss having mercury in their tuna or asthma inhalers for their kids. 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