Back home Quote by Norman Borlaug
“Some of the environmental lobbyists of the Western nations are the salt of the earth, but many of them are elitists. They've never experienced the physical sensation of hunger. They do their lobbying from comfortable office suites in Washington or Brussels. If they lived just one month amid the misery of the developing world, as I have for fifty years, they'd be crying out for tractors and fertilizer and irrigation canals and be outraged that fashionable elitists back home were trying to deny them these things.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on agricultural development, 1975
The quote criticizes wealthy environmental lobbyists for lacking firsthand experience of poverty, suggesting their policies may ignore the urgent needs of the poor.
In simple terms: Rich lobbyists often ignore real hunger and need.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and prioritize the lived realities of the poor.
Themes
agricultural policy
environmentalism
poverty
development
elitism
Mood
concerned
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- International development work
- policy advocacy
- NGO planning
- field research
- humanitarian aid
Key Concepts
Empathy
policy bias
resource allocation
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you balance ecological protection with immediate human needs?
- What mechanisms ensure policies reflect on‑the‑ground realities?
A Different Perspective
The perspective may overlook legitimate environmental concerns and long‑term sustainability.
![“I know where a lot of them [the elite or elitists] live. Where's that? Well, in our nation's capital and New York City. I've seen it. I've lived there.” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a9/john-mccain-465_elites_i-know-where-a-lot-of-them-the-elite-or_1355547.jpg)
