---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong…"
description: "\"The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong about how quickly the world would run out of oil, but not about the dangers that hydrocarbon consumption posed t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg"
---

#  The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong about how quickly…

![“The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong about how quickly the world would run out of oil, but not about the dangers that hydrocarbon consumption posed to the global environment, especially with respect to climate change.” quote by Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg)

> “The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong about how quickly the world would run out of oil, but not about the dangers that hydrocarbon consumption posed to the global environment, especially with respect to climate change.”

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

## About This Quote

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

The 1970s predicted oil scarcity correctly, but underestimated the broader environmental harm of fossil fuels, especially climate change.

**In simple terms:** Oil scarcity was right, but climate impact was missed.

Key Takeaway

Recognize broader environmental risks.

Themes

environment energy climate change prediction history

Mood

concerned analytical urgent

Type

opinion historical environmental

When to use this quote

- energy planning
- climate activism
- regulatory reform
- public awareness

Key Concepts

sustainability policy technology

Questions to Reflect On

- What policies could have mitigated early climate risks?
- How can we balance energy needs with environmental protection?

A Different Perspective

Economic focus can overlook ecological consequences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Consumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumption/) [Dangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangers/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/)

[Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/)

> [We frequently look into the future of mankind and see dangers. We see if we carry on doing what we are doing in 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-frequently-look-into-the-future-of-mankind-and-see-dangers-we-see/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [You know, the mountains are full of dangers, and they swallow you up. But mostly, they give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-coombs/you-know-the-mountains-are-full-of-dangers-and-they-swallow-you-up/)

Doug Coombs

> [I'm very much aware of the dangers of becoming a cliche. Mr. Anger, someone who gets meaner, angrier on record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-m-very-much-aware-of-the-dangers-of-becoming-a-cliche-mr-anger/)

[Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/)

> [You see, my son, it is not a fact that you will never face dangers. Difficulties always come, but they do not last forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarada-devi/you-see-my-son-it-is-not-a-fact-that-you-will-never-face-dangers/)

[Sarada Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarada-devi/)

> [“I spent two months characterizing the dangers contained within the Desoto Solar Farm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-spent-two-months-characterizing-the-dangers-contained-within-the/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [The feminists who are aware of the effects of patriarchy realize that we are all in the same boat from the dangers of patriarchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/the-feminists-who-are-aware-of-the-effects-of-patriarchy-realize-that/)

[Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/)

> [We all know the dangers of sequels. Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place too often, and I think you've got to move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/we-all-know-the-dangers-of-sequels-lightning-doesn-t-strike-twice-in/)

[Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/)

> [The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-torment-of-precautions-often-exceeds-the-dangers-to-be-avoided-it/)

[Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/)

> [The dangers of low self-esteem are more extensive than most of us realize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/the-dangers-of-low-self-esteem-are-more-extensive-than-most-of-us/)

Senoraroy

> [It's a problem for him because he's got - like Edward VII had - nearly all his lifetime to wait until he becomes Monarch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/it-s-a-problem-for-him-because-he-s-got-like-edward-vii-had-nearly/)

[Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/)

> [“The greatest dangers you can get into are the ones you see coming. The ones that just happen are just roads waiting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-manful/the-greatest-dangers-you-can-get-into-are-the-ones-you-see-coming-the/)

[Melody Manful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-manful/)

> [Lovely female shapes are terrible complicators of the difficulties and dangers of this earthly life, especially for their owners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-du-maurier/lovely-female-shapes-are-terrible-complicators-of-the-difficulties/)

[George du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-du-maurier/)

> [“Old people deserves a medal, a medal of existence which crowns their long-term victory against the cruelty of time and the dangers of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/old-people-deserves-a-medal-a-medal-of-existence-which-crowns-their/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I think so many doors have been opened for the gay community as far as the dangers and horrors of HIV. There is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-benjamin-hickey/i-think-so-many-doors-have-been-opened-for-the-gay-community-as-far/)

[John Benjamin Hickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-benjamin-hickey/)

## More by Timothy Noah

> [When the only people in mainstream discourse who care about the working class are Wall Street investors, it really is time to ask where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-only-people-in-mainstream-discourse-who-care-about-the/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Washington culture has always had a difficult time acknowledging untruth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/washington-culture-has-always-had-a-difficult-time-acknowledging/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [GOP candidates routinely sign a pledge never, ever to raise taxes. Democratic candidates aren't even asked to sign a parallel pledge never, ever to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/gop-candidates-routinely-sign-a-pledge-never-ever-to-raise-taxes/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Whatever the reason, American Muslims appear far less inclined to support the global jihad than their European counterparts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/whatever-the-reason-american-muslims-appear-far-less-inclined-to/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [I recognize that Republicans see a moral difference between a dollar taken away from a millionaire in government benefits and a dollar taken away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/i-recognize-that-republicans-see-a-moral-difference-between-a-dollar/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [What is the engine that drives economic growth in an ideopolis? The university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/what-is-the-engine-that-drives-economic-growth-in-an-ideopolis-the/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [There is quite a lot of mutual misunderstanding between the upper middle class and the working class. Reviewing what's been said about the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/there-is-quite-a-lot-of-mutual-misunderstanding-between-the-upper/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [We Americans love our Constitution so much that we can't bear to change even the stupid parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/we-americans-love-our-constitution-so-much-that-we-can-t-bear-to/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [There's a growing consensus that the best way to defeat communism in Cuba is to get its citizens hooked on American goods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/there-s-a-growing-consensus-that-the-best-way-to-defeat-communism-in/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [What I've come to believe is that psychological advice isn't worth much if it isn't rooted in personal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/what-i-ve-come-to-believe-is-that-psychological-advice-isn-t-worth/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [The Supreme Court needs jurists, not politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-supreme-court-needs-jurists-not-politicians/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Is class snobbery a social reality in the United States? Absolutely, and the kind that's codified by meritocracy is probably more toxic than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/is-class-snobbery-a-social-reality-in-the-united-states-absolutely/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Politicians have such large egos that it usually takes them an inordinately long time to grasp when they've become a pathetic joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/politicians-have-such-large-egos-that-it-usually-takes-them-an/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

> [Being a teacher is back-breakingly difficult work. It is also extremely important work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/being-a-teacher-is-back-breakingly-difficult-work-it-is-also/)

[Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

[Explore all 152 Timothy Noah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong about how quickly the world would run out of oil, but not about the dangers that hydrocarbon consumption posed to the global environment, especially with respect to climate change.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Timothy Noah"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-about-how-quickly-the-world/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-about-how-quickly-the-world/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/timothy-noah-2744_about_the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-a_1136014.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The doomsayers of the 1970s were wrong about how quickly the world would run out of oil, but not about the…” — Timothy Noah",
                "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": "Timothy Noah",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The doomsayers of the 1970s were...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-about-how-quickly-the-world/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/the-doomsayers-of-the-1970s-were-wrong-about-how-quickly-the-world/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
