---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How…"
description: "\"“We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? -Lee Iacocca, former chairman, Ford Motor Company”\" — Steven D. Price"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg"
---

#  We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air…

![“We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? -Lee Iacocca, former chairman, Ford Motor Company” quote by Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg)

> ““We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? -Lee Iacocca, former chairman, Ford Motor Company””

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

## About This Quote

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

It urges reflection on the balance between industrial progress and environmental health, questioning how much clean air is essential for society.

**In simple terms:** Consider the trade‑off between growth and air quality.

Key Takeaway

Balance development with environmental stewardship.

Themes

environment industrial policy sustainability public health

Mood

thoughtful concerned

Type

philosophical call‑to‑action

When to use this quote

- urban planning
- legislative hearings on emissions

Key Concepts

externalities resource limits

Practical Applications

- Implement stricter air‑quality standards
- Promote green technologies

Questions to Reflect On

- What metrics should guide our clean‑air targets?
- How can we grow without compromising air quality?

A Different Perspective

The quote assumes a linear relationship between clean air and economic activity, ignoring possible decoupling through innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clean air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-air/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/)

## Related quotes

> [We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how-much-clean-air-do-we-need-2/)

[Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/)

> [Now we ask you to clean up your homes we urge each of you to dress and keep in a beautiful state the property…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/now-we-ask-you-to-clean-up-your-homes-we-urge-each-of-you-to-dress/)

[Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/)

> [Why We Need A Best Friend When we Have So Many People Around Us? A Wise Man Said:air Is Everywhere But We Still Need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/why-we-need-a-best-friend-when-we-have-so-many-people-around-us-a/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [ “Instead of jumping right in to accomplish whatever task \[is\] assigned, difference makers pause – to ask the right question.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sturt/instead-of-jumping-right-in-to-accomplish-whatever-task-is-assigned/)

[David Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sturt/)

> [Stranger, pause and ask thyself the question, Canst thou do likewise? If not, with a blush retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/stranger-pause-and-ask-thyself-the-question-canst-thou-do-likewise-if/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [When confronted by conflict and confusion, another practice is to take a deep breath, pause and ask: 'Where is the gift in this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-dreher/when-confronted-by-conflict-and-confusion-another-practice-is-to-take/)

[Diane Dreher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-dreher/)

> [The atmosphere almost looks like an eggshell on an egg, it's so thin. We know that we don't have much air - we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-collins/the-atmosphere-almost-looks-like-an-eggshell-on-an-egg-it-s-so-thin/)

[Eileen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-collins/)

> [“In everything that you do, pause and ask yourself if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives you of this”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/in-everything-that-you-do-pause-and-ask-yourself-if-death-is-a/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [Lots of cosy sky That God and I can share. I need air. I need air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jay-lerner/lots-of-cosy-sky-that-god-and-i-can-share-i-need-air-i-need-air/)

[Alan Jay Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jay-lerner/)

> [“You need air. You need food. You don't need some beastly boy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-reeves/you-need-air-you-need-food-you-don-t-need-some-beastly-boy/)

[Dia Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-reeves/)

> [“But you don't need anything. You have everything,' I tell him. Rip looks at me. 'No I don't.' 'What?' 'No I don't.' There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/but-you-don-t-need-anything-you-have-everything-i-tell-him-rip-looks/)

[Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/)

> [Why we need special friend when we have so many friends ? The answer is simple there are so many gases in the air…But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/why-we-need-special-friend-when-we-have-so-many-friends-the-answer-is/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere. Lee Iacocca Love is the irresistible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/you-can-have-brilliant-ideas-but-if-you-can-t-get-them-across-your/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“CEOs face this choice all the time. Should they confront their shortcomings or should they create a world where they have none? Lee Iacocca…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-s-dweck/ceos-face-this-choice-all-the-time-should-they-confront-their/)

[Carol S. Dweck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-s-dweck/)

> [At 31, I decided to learn how to read and, at 32, read my first book: Lee Iacocca's autobiography. Ten years later, with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/at-31-i-decided-to-learn-how-to-read-and-at-32-read-my-first-book-lee/)

[Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/)

## More by Steven D. Price

> [“I shall tell you a great secret my friend. Do not wait for the last judgement, it takes place every day. —Albert Camus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/i-shall-tell-you-a-great-secret-my-friend-do-not-wait-for-the-last/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“My fellow Americans, I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes. -Ronald Reagan, unaware a radio microphone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/my-fellow-americans-i-ve-signed-legislation-that-will-outlaw-russia/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“It is a good thing to be rich and a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/it-is-a-good-thing-to-be-rich-and-a-good-thing-to-be-strong-but-it-is/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“Jupiter's moons are invisible to the naked eye, and therefore can have no influence on the earth, and therefore would be useless, and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/jupiter-s-moons-are-invisible-to-the-naked-eye-and-therefore-can-have/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“Those who survived the San Francisco earthquake said, "Thank God, I'm still alive." But of course, those who died-their lives will never be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/those-who-survived-the-san-francisco-earthquake-said-thank-god-i-m/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination. —Voltaire”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/love-is-a-canvas-furnished-by-nature-and-embroidered-by-imagination-2/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“The telephone company is urging people not to use the telephone unless it is absolutely necessary, in order to keep the lines open for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/the-telephone-company-is-urging-people-not-to-use-the-telephone/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“What the superior man seeks is in himself. What the mean man seeks is in others. —Confucius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/what-the-superior-man-seeks-is-in-himself-what-the-mean-man-seeks-is/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“I don't intend for this to take on a political tone. I'm just here for the drugs. -Nancy Reagan, speaking at an anti-drug rally”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/i-don-t-intend-for-this-to-take-on-a-political-tone-i-m-just-here-for/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“Honest businessmen should be protected from the unscrupulous consumer. -Lester Maddox, governor of Georgia, arguing against the creation of a state consumer protection agency”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/honest-businessmen-should-be-protected-from-the-unscrupulous-consumer-2/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“If there is anything we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/if-there-is-anything-we-wish-to-change-in-the-child-we-should-first/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards. —Anonymous”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/experience-is-a-hard-teacher-she-gives-the-test-first-and-the-lessons/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“Men occassionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry on as if nothing had happened. -Sir Winston Churchill”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/men-occassionally-stumble-over-the-truth-but-most-of-them-pick/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm. -Bruce Barton”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/if-you-can-give-your-son-or-daughter-only-one-gift-let-it-be-2/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

> [“It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father. -Pope John XXIII”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/it-is-easier-for-a-father-to-have-children-than-for-children-to-have-2/)

[Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

[Explore all 20 Steven D. Price quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/)

## More Clean air quotes

> [“We must have clean air and water, and beautiful natural foods for everyone, everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-have-clean-air-and-water-and-beautiful-natural-foods-for/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [There is no domestic issue more important to America in the long run than the conservation and proper use of our natural resources, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-nelson/there-is-no-domestic-issue-more-important-to-america-in-the-long-run/)

[Gaylord Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-nelson/)

> [“I'm starting to realize that being born into this social world is a little like being born into clean air. You take it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randa-abdel-fattah/i-m-starting-to-realize-that-being-born-into-this-social-world-is-a/)

[Randa Abdel-Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randa-abdel-fattah/)

> [You go into a community and they will vote 80 percent to 20 percent in favor of a tougher Clean Air Act, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ruckelshaus/you-go-into-a-community-and-they-will-vote-80-percent-to-20-percent/)

[William Ruckelshaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ruckelshaus/)

> [I am an environmentalist. ... I am for clean air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-am-an-environmentalist-i-am-for-clean-air/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [This is a truth that should be repeated like a mantra: to have any chance of a ful - filling life, we require not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnside/this-is-a-truth-that-should-be-repeated-like-a-mantra-to-have-any/)

[John Burnside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnside/)

> [Why worry about minor little details like clean air, clean water, safe ports and the safety net when Jesus is going to give the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/why-worry-about-minor-little-details-like-clean-air-clean-water-safe/)

[Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/)

> [Tax reduction has an almost irresistible appeal to the politician, and it is no doubt also gratifying to the citizen. It means more dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/tax-reduction-has-an-almost-irresistible-appeal-to-the-politician-and/)

[John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/)

> [Any first-generation technology will. But we are looking at carbon the same way we look at every pollutant under the Clean Air Act; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-mccarthy/any-first-generation-technology-will-but-we-are-looking-at-carbon-the/)

[Gina McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-mccarthy/)

> [EPA's Affordable Clean Energy rule (ACE), would restore the states' proper role under the Clean Air Act and our system of federalism. Our plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-r-wheeler/epa-s-affordable-clean-energy-rule-ace-would-restore-the-states/)

[Andrew R. Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-r-wheeler/)

> [Our work seeks to focus attention on the necessity of developing security for the global village, meeting its need for clean air, water, food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalie-bertell/our-work-seeks-to-focus-attention-on-the-necessity-of-developing/)

[Rosalie Bertell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalie-bertell/)

> [America is a global leader on clean air progress and carbon dioxide reductions, and we are the envy of the world when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-r-wheeler/america-is-a-global-leader-on-clean-air-progress-and-carbon-dioxide/)

[Andrew R. Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-r-wheeler/)

> [If you're asking me do we want clean air and clean water? Yes. Do we want a safer climate for future generations of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/if-you-re-asking-me-do-we-want-clean-air-and-clean-water-yes-do-we/)

[Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/)

> [Self-centeredness will bring on the destruction of our world. National pride separates people. All people need the same thing. When you really get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/self-centeredness-will-bring-on-the-destruction-of-our-world-national/)

[Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/)

> [The access to clean air and clean water is a basic right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-won-soon/the-access-to-clean-air-and-clean-water-is-a-basic-right/)

[Park Won-soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-won-soon/)

[Browse all 159 Clean air quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-air/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? -Lee Iacocca, former chairman, Ford Motor Company”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steven D. Price"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how-much-clean-air-do-we-need/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clean air"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how-much-clean-air-do-we-need/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d2/steven-d-price-28030_clean-air_we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how_102961.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need? -Lee Iacocca, former chairman, Ford…” — Steven D. Price",
                "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": "Steven D. Price",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“We've got to pause and ask...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how-much-clean-air-do-we-need/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/we-ve-got-to-pause-and-ask-ourselves-how-much-clean-air-do-we-need/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
