---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not believe you can have infinite…"
description: "\"I do not believe you can have infinite population or economic growth in a finite world. We are living on the shoulders of some awesome geometric curves..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg"
---

#  I do not believe you can have infinite population or…

![“I do not believe you can have infinite population or economic growth in a finite world. We are living on the shoulders of some awesome geometric curves.” quote by Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg)

> “I do not believe you can have infinite population or economic growth in a finite world. We are living on the shoulders of some awesome geometric curves.”

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Infinite population or growth is impossible on a finite planet; we rely on geometric limits.

**In simple terms:** Finite world limits growth.

Key Takeaway

Respect planetary limits.

Themes

environment economics population sustainability

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

environmental economic

When to use this quote

- urban planning
- policy making
- educational curricula
- public awareness

Key Concepts

ecology resource\_management geometric\_models

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we balance growth and limits?
- What policies enforce sustainability?

A Different Perspective

Economic growth may still be pursued unsustainably.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Awesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome/) [Economic growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-growth/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [When politicians &amp; economists understand we live in a finite world &amp; act accordingly then a better future has a chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-harding/when-politicians-economists-understand-we-live-in-a-finite-world-act/)

[Phil Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-harding/)

> [How is it possible to find meaning in a finite world, given my waist and shirt size?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/how-is-it-possible-to-find-meaning-in-a-finite-world-given-my-waist/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [Infinite growth of material consumption in a finite world is an impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/infinite-growth-of-material-consumption-in-a-finite-world-is-an/)

[E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/)

> [A finite world can support only a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/a-finite-world-can-support-only-a-finite-population-therefore/)

[Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/)

> [I would be remiss, as a scientist who studied this, if I didn't mention the following two things: The first is that, most importantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-miller/i-would-be-remiss-as-a-scientist-who-studied-this-if-i-didn-t-mention/)

[John Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-miller/)

> [“per capita incomes scarcely changed; the new production was absorbed in supporting an increasing population. This was not economic growth. The economy expanded, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/per-capita-incomes-scarcely-changed-the-new-production-was-absorbed/)

[Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/)

> [...all man's desired geometric progressions, if a high rate of growth is chosen, at last come to grief on a finite earth. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/all-man-s-desired-geometric-progressions-if-a-high-rate-of-growth-is/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [We need visions of a future in which we have applied our infinite creativity to the task of living on a finite world, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grinspoon/we-need-visions-of-a-future-in-which-we-have-applied-our-infinite/)

[David Grinspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grinspoon/)

> [In a finite world this means that the per capita share of the world's goods must steadily decrease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-hardin/in-a-finite-world-this-means-that-the-per-capita-share-of-the-world-s/)

[Garrett Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-hardin/)

> [And that, quite simply, is the issue. We live in a finite world with finite resources. Although it may sometimes seem quite big, earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/and-that-quite-simply-is-the-issue-we-live-in-a-finite-world-with/)

[David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/)

> [“It is the Shechina that funnels the waves of creative potential into a revealed, finite world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laibl-wolf/it-is-the-shechina-that-funnels-the-waves-of-creative-potential-into/)

Laibl Wolf

> [Much of what I make is geometric, and has a kind of almost mathematical logic to the form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anish-kapoor/much-of-what-i-make-is-geometric-and-has-a-kind-of-almost/)

[Anish Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anish-kapoor/)

> [Geometric shapes hold an energy pattern, and scientists did some experiments which say certain geometric shapes can affect matter around them. It's simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/geometric-shapes-hold-an-energy-pattern-and-scientists-did-some/)

[Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/)

> [The regular division of the plane into congruent figures evoking an association in the observer with a familiar natural object is one of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-escher/the-regular-division-of-the-plane-into-congruent-figures-evoking-an/)

[M. C. Escher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-escher/)

> [There is a deep connection between Bernoulli's dictum and John Kelly's 1956 publication. It turns out that Kelly's prescription can be restated as this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-poundstone/there-is-a-deep-connection-between-bernoulli-s-dictum-and-john-kelly/)

[William Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-poundstone/)

## More by Richard Lamm

> ['Diversity' is a wonderfully seductive word. It stresses differences rather than commonalities. Diverse people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/diversity-is-a-wonderfully-seductive-word-it-stresses-differences/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [History shows, in my opinion, that no nation can survive the tension, conflict and antagonism of two competing languages and cultures. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/history-shows-in-my-opinion-that-no-nation-can-survive-the-tension/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [Sprawl is the American ideal way to develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/sprawl-is-the-american-ideal-way-to-develop/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [I have no permanent enemies - only people I have yet to persuade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-have-no-permanent-enemies-only-people-i-have-yet-to-persuade/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [I believe we all must face the fact of death. It is both gift and curse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-believe-we-all-must-face-the-fact-of-death-it-is-both-gift-and-curse/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [All we know about the new economic world is that nations which train engineers will prevail over those which train lawyers. No nation has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/all-we-know-about-the-new-economic-world-is-that-nations-which-train/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [Sprawl is the American ideal way to develop. I believe that what we're developing in Denver is in no appreciable way different than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/sprawl-is-the-american-ideal-way-to-develop-i-believe-that-what-we-re/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [I've had some major disappointments. The quality of life in Denver is worse than when I took over, and I'm embarrassed about that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-ve-had-some-major-disappointments-the-quality-of-life-in-denver-is/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [We can make the United States a 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/we-can-make-the-united-states-a-hispanic-quebec-without-much-effort/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [It was almost a desecration to put a building on the Boulder Turnpike, which is now U.S.-36 and is almost backyards and even junkyards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/it-was-almost-a-desecration-to-put-a-building-on-the-boulder-turnpike/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [America has to ask itself not what it wants, but what it can afford... The New Deal, in my mind, has become a raw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/america-has-to-ask-itself-not-what-it-wants-but-what-it-can-afford/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [I believe for some high-technology medicine, like transplants and kidney dialysis, age should be a consideration in the delivery of that technology. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-believe-for-some-high-technology-medicine-like-transplants-and/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [God is not an American. Nature did not design Americans to be prosperous forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/god-is-not-an-american-nature-did-not-design-americans-to-be/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [A truly moral health care system should start out by covering all of its citizens with basic health care. It would not be seduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/a-truly-moral-health-care-system-should-start-out-by-covering-all-of/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

> [Amnesty is a big billboard, a flashing billboard, to the rest of the world that we don't really mean our immigration law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/amnesty-is-a-big-billboard-a-flashing-billboard-to-the-rest-of-the/)

[Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

[Explore all 67 Richard Lamm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/)

## More Awesome quotes

> [It would be awesome to play in my backyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/it-would-be-awesome-to-play-in-my-backyard/)

[Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/)

[Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/)

> [Literally, 'Dance Moms' was so amazing, and I have the world to thank for that. They were so awesome - the set, the cast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/literally-dance-moms-was-so-amazing-and-i-have-the-world-to-thank-for/)

[JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/)

> ['Smallville' was a really awesome opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-witwer/smallville-was-a-really-awesome-opportunity/)

[Samuel Witwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-witwer/)

> [Why does the Internet get Awesome when I have work to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-does-the-internet-get-awesome-when-i-have-work-to-do/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you're going to do a job, do it right. If you're going to throw a birthday party, make it amazing. If you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-john-liautaud/if-you-re-going-to-do-a-job-do-it-right-if-you-re-going-to-throw-a/)

[Jimmy John Liautaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-john-liautaud/)

> [It was awesome because we were doing Ramones songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/it-was-awesome-because-we-were-doing-ramones-songs/)

[Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/)

> [Need to go to the pharmacy, because I'm so sick!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-matthews/need-to-go-to-the-pharmacy-because-i-m-so-sick/)

Tasha Matthews

> [February 18 is the most awesome day of the year!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-chica15/february-18-is-the-most-awesome-day-of-the-year/)

[Yo-chica15](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-chica15/)

> [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/)

[Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/)

> ['Dancing with the Stars' is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/dancing-with-the-stars-is-awesome/)

[Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/)

> [People forget we've got awesome entrepreneurs all over the country, especially in the North East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-davies/people-forget-we-ve-got-awesome-entrepreneurs-all-over-the-country/)

[Sara Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-davies/)

> [Seeing how the kids react to you is pretty awesome. Not necessarily that they're star struck, but they're shy. They're kids. They don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/seeing-how-the-kids-react-to-you-is-pretty-awesome-not-necessarily/)

[Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/)

> [I think a superhero would be awesome to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maika-monroe/i-think-a-superhero-would-be-awesome-to-play/)

[Maika Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maika-monroe/)

[Browse all 1,244 Awesome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I do not believe you can have infinite population or economic growth in a finite world. We are living on the shoulders of some awesome geometric curves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Lamm"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-population-or-economic-growth/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Awesome"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-population-or-economic-growth/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/richard-lamm-10220_awesome_i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-p_1170289.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I do not believe you can have infinite population or economic growth in a finite world. We are living on the…” — Richard Lamm",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Lamm",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I do not believe you can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-population-or-economic-growth/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-do-not-believe-you-can-have-infinite-population-or-economic-growth/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
