Confidence Quote by Ronald Wright
““The islanders, they write: carried out for us the experiment of permitting unrestricted population growth, profligate use of resources, destruction of the environment and boundless confidence in their religion to take care of the future. The result was an ecological disaster leading to a population crash…. Do we have to repeat the experiment on [a] grand scale?… Is the human personality always the same as that of the person who felled the last tree?””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Short History of Nearly Everything, 2003
Human societies repeat destructive patterns when they ignore ecological limits, leading to collapse.
In simple terms: Ignoring limits causes collapse.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect ecological boundaries.
Themes
environment
population
resource use
religion
future
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
cautionary
reflective
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- policy making
- education
- community activism
Key Concepts
Sustainability
tragedy of the commons
anthropocentrism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies shift values to prioritize sustainability?
- What policies can curb unchecked growth?
A Different Perspective
Even with awareness, economic and cultural forces often resist change.
![“Soon after man shows up in new lands, the big game starts to go missing. […] A bad smell of extinction follows Home sapiens around the world. (37)” quote by Ronald Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ad5/ronald-wright-25212_around-the-world_soon-after-man-shows-up-in-new-lands-the_2147648.jpg)
