--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Economic development over the past two…" description: "\"Economic development over the past two centuries has taken most of humanity from lives that were brutal, ignorant and short, to personal health and sec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/ross-garnaut-39637_brutal_economic-development-over-the-past-two-c_2785608.jpg" --- # Economic development over the past two centuries has taken… ![“Economic development over the past two centuries has taken most of humanity from lives that were brutal, ignorant and short, to personal health and security, material comfort and knowledge that were unknown to the elites of the wealthiest and most powerful societies in earlier times.” quote by Ross Garnaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/ross-garnaut-39637_brutal_economic-development-over-the-past-two-c_2785608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/ross-garnaut-39637_brutal_economic-development-over-the-past-two-c_2785608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/870/ross-garnaut-39637_brutal_economic-development-over-the-past-two-c_2785608.jpg) > “Economic development over the past two centuries has taken most of humanity from lives that were brutal, ignorant and short, to personal health and security, material comfort and knowledge that were unknown to the elites of the wealthiest and most powerful societies in earlier times.” [Ross Garnaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-garnaut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity has moved from harsh, short lives to longer, healthier, more comfortable ones thanks to progress in health, security, and knowledge. **In simple terms:** Progress improved health, security, and comfort. Key Takeaway Embrace and support continued development. Themes progress human welfare inequality technology history Mood optimistic reflective Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - education reform - global health initiatives - infrastructure projects Key Concepts development economics social transformation public health Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure equitable distribution of progress? - What policies best sustain long‑term development? A Different Perspective Progress can increase inequality if benefits aren't shared. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Development Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development-past-3341428/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-development/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Elites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elites/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Ignorant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorant/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Most powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-powerful/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Over the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-the-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Centuries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-centuries-1581380/) [Personal health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-health/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Powerful Societies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful-societies-1036476/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Societies Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/societies-earlier-3341429/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [The reason the very concept of God has become at once so impoverished, so thoroughly mythical, and ultimately so incredible for so many modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/the-reason-the-very-concept-of-god-has-become-at-once-so-impoverished/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [So, at one extreme you have indigenous, tribal societies trying to stem the race to disaster. 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