Capitalist Quote by Noam Chomsky
““The reality is that under capitalist conditions―meaning maximization of short-term gain―you're ultimately going to destroy the environment: the only question is when. Now, for a long time, it's been possible to pretend that the environment is an infinite source and an infinite sink. Neither is true obviously, and we're now sort of approaching the point where you can't keep playing the game too much longer. It may not be very far off. Well, dealing with that problem is going to require large-scale social changes of an almost unimaginable kind. For one thing, it's going to certainly require large-scale social planning, and that means participatory social planning if it's going to be at all meaningful. It's also going to require a general recognition among human beings that an economic system driven by greed is going to self-destruct―it's only a question of time before you make the planet unlivable, by destroying the ozone layer or some other way. And that means huge socio-psychological changes have to take place if the human species is going to survive very much longer. So that's a big factor.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on environmental crisis, 2020
Capitalist focus on short‑term profit inevitably harms the planet; systemic change and collective planning are needed to avoid ecological collapse.
In simple terms: Greed leads to environmental ruin; we must plan together.
Key Takeaway
Adopt participatory planning now.
Themes
environment
economics
social change
psychology
survival
Mood
urgent
concerned
hopeful
Type
analytical
call‑to‑action
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community organizing
- education reform
- corporate governance
Key Concepts
sustainability
collective action
systemic risk
behavioral shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we motivate societies to prioritize long‑term ecological health?
- What structures can ensure genuine participatory planning?
A Different Perspective
Large‑scale change is politically difficult and may face resistance.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
