--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The earth is going to survive, it's the…" description: "\"The earth is going to survive, it's the people that aren't.\" — Sixto Rodriguez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg" --- # The earth is going to survive, it's the people that aren't. ![“The earth is going to survive, it's the people that aren't.” quote by Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg) > “The earth is going to survive, it's the people that aren't.” [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The planet endures, but human actions threaten our survival. **In simple terms:** Earth survives; people may not. Key Takeaway Change human behavior for survival. Themes environment humanity survival Mood concerned urgent Type activist philosophical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - community projects - education - green tech Key Concepts Sustainability responsibility legacy Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take today? - How can you influence others to act? A Different Perspective Changing habits is difficult and slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [In the '70s, you didn't know who was going to survive in a disaster film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/in-the-70s-you-didn-t-know-who-was-going-to-survive-in-a-disaster-film/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [If you are going to survive in business, show business or any business, then you have to be bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-ferguson/if-you-are-going-to-survive-in-business-show-business-or-any-business/) [Rebecca Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-ferguson/) > [I think that any program that's born from below rather than on high is going to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/i-think-that-any-program-that-s-born-from-below-rather-than-on-high/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [A relationship built by two people, can only survive with two people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-relationship-built-by-two-people-can-only-survive-with-two-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are going to survive. And good things are going to start to happen again. And one day you are going to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/you-are-going-to-survive-and-good-things-are-going-to-start-to-happen/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [We wouldn't survive if people didn't trust us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-brin/we-wouldn-t-survive-if-people-didn-t-trust-us/) [Sergey Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-brin/) > [To survive, the people in neighborhoods are going to have to secede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-hess/to-survive-the-people-in-neighborhoods-are-going-to-have-to-secede/) [Karl Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-hess/) > [Wolves are very resourceful. All they need to survive is for people not to shoot them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ferris/wolves-are-very-resourceful-all-they-need-to-survive-is-for-people/) Bob Ferris > [You have to kill to survive. People have been doing it forever. I eat meat, and I eat fish. If I were on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benicio-del-toro/you-have-to-kill-to-survive-people-have-been-doing-it-forever-i-eat/) [Benicio Del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benicio-del-toro/) > [I ought not to fear to survive my own people so long as there are men in the world; for there are always some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/i-ought-not-to-fear-to-survive-my-own-people-so-long-as-there-are-men/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [“Last, but by no means least, the advance of technology has produced a human population that is far more helpless and dependent than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitry-orlov/last-but-by-no-means-least-the-advance-of-technology-has-produced-a/) [Dmitry Orlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitry-orlov/) > [“Have you ever noticed that humans have made it so difficult and complicated to “survive” in this world? It’s a vicious cycle. You go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-engellenner/have-you-ever-noticed-that-humans-have-made-it-so-difficult-and/) Eliza Engellenner > [I don't think the planet can survive people. It's not the other way around. I don't think the planet can survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-price/i-don-t-think-the-planet-can-survive-people-it-s-not-the-other-way/) [Ray Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-price/) > [It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-cruise-o-brien/the-main-thing-that-endears-the-united-nations-to-member-governments/) [Conor Cruise O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-cruise-o-brien/) ## More by Sixto Rodriguez > [You either live under a rock or you walk in the sunshine. That’s pretty much how it goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/you-either-live-under-a-rock-or-you-walk-in-the-sunshine-that-s/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [Every 20 years or so, I feel that young people confront the same issues - a new war, new challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/every-20-years-or-so-i-feel-that-young-people-confront-the-same/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I've only written 30 songs or something. Dylan's written over 500 songs. There's no comparison. He's the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll and popular music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-ve-only-written-30-songs-or-something-dylan-s-written-over-500/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [All my life, I never gave up on music and though there was a lot of disappointment for some that the commercial thing never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/all-my-life-i-never-gave-up-on-music-and-though-there-was-a-lot-of/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [How much of you is repetition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/how-much-of-you-is-repetition/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I have a sloppy style of playing guitar. A percussive style. Unique in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-have-a-sloppy-style-of-playing-guitar-a-percussive-style-unique-in/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [About love, don't be a silent partner. And be gentle with your anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/about-love-don-t-be-a-silent-partner-and-be-gentle-with-your-anger/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I stopped chasing the music dream back in '74.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-stopped-chasing-the-music-dream-back-in-74/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I've had such an ordinary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-ve-had-such-an-ordinary-life/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I did a lot of heavy-lifting - construction, demolition, that kind of thing. Dusty, dirty work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-did-a-lot-of-heavy-lifting-construction-demolition-that-kind-of/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I loved the Woody Guthrie tradition of speaking about what's happening to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-loved-the-woody-guthrie-tradition-of-speaking-about-what-s/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [Where other people live in an artificial world, I feel I live in the real world. And nothing beats reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/where-other-people-live-in-an-artificial-world-i-feel-i-live-in-the/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I used protest music as a vehicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-used-protest-music-as-a-vehicle/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [Barriers are being brought down by technology through the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/barriers-are-being-brought-down-by-technology-through-the-internet/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I was ready for the world. I don't think the world was ready for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-was-ready-for-the-world-i-don-t-think-the-world-was-ready-for-me/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) [Explore all 104 Sixto Rodriguez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) ## More Earth quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [This, at last, was where things were as they ought to be. Everything was in its place -- the tree, the earth underneath, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-liedloff/this-at-last-was-where-things-were-as-they-ought-to-be-everything-was/) [Jean Liedloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-liedloff/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [What did you do to save the world today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/what-did-you-do-to-save-the-world-today/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) [Browse all 15,455 Earth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The earth is going to survive, it's the people that aren't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sixto Rodriguez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-people-that-aren-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Earth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-people-that-aren-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/sixto-rodriguez-4946_earth_the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-p_1338292.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The earth is going to survive, it's the people that aren't.” — Sixto Rodriguez", "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": "Sixto Rodriguez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The earth is going to survive,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-people-that-aren-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/the-earth-is-going-to-survive-it-s-the-people-that-aren-t/#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 } } ] } ```