--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We haven't got the power to destroy the…" description: "\"We haven't got the power to destroy the planet -- or to save it. But we might have the power to save ourselves.\" — Tryon Edwards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/tryon-edwards-4992_power_we-haven-t-got-the-power-to-destroy-the_1020871.png" --- # We haven't got the power to destroy the planet -- or to… ![“We haven't got the power to destroy the planet -- or to save it. But we might have the power to save ourselves.” quote by Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/tryon-edwards-4992_power_we-haven-t-got-the-power-to-destroy-the_1020871.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/tryon-edwards-4992_power_we-haven-t-got-the-power-to-destroy-the_1020871.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/tryon-edwards-4992_power_we-haven-t-got-the-power-to-destroy-the_1020871.png) > “We haven't got the power to destroy the planet -- or to save it. But we might have the power to save ourselves.” [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights humanity’s limited power over planetary fate, but potential to save ourselves. **In simple terms:** We can’t control Earth, but we can protect ourselves. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑preservation and sustainable choices. Themes environment self‑care responsibility Mood concerned hopeful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - personal health - community resilience - policy advocacy - education Key Concepts planetary limits human agency sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute to personal and planetary health? - What sustainable habits can you adopt? A Different Perspective Global change may outpace individual actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Let's be clear. The planet is not in jeopardy. We are in jeopardy. We haven't got the power to destroy the planet - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/let-s-be-clear-the-planet-is-not-in-jeopardy-we-are-in-jeopardy-we/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Use of energy-efficient LEDs, pumps, fans, and air-conditioners will save power consumption and reduces the peak load.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piyush-goyal/use-of-energy-efficient-leds-pumps-fans-and-air-conditioners-will/) [Piyush Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piyush-goyal/) > [We do have the power to save one another...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/we-do-have-the-power-to-save-one-another/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [“But Ma, I have the power to save her!" -TIM”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/but-ma-i-have-the-power-to-save-her-tim/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [After we save the planet, who will save us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/after-we-save-the-planet-who-will-save-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We’re so self-important. Everybody’s going to save something now. “Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save those snails.” And the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/we-re-so-self-important-everybody-s-going-to-save-something-now-save/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Forget the planet, save the garden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cotterill/forget-the-planet-save-the-garden/) [Colin Cotterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cotterill/) > [My job, my mission, the reason I’ve been put onto this planet, is to save wildlife. And I thank you for comin’ with me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/my-job-my-mission-the-reason-i-ve-been-put-onto-this-planet-is-to/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [“The car housed a hysterical bumper sticker: Save the Planet, and I permitted a moment of contemplation to truly bask in this thought. Save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-crown/the-car-housed-a-hysterical-bumper-sticker-save-the-planet-and-i/) [Bruce Crown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-crown/) > [“Malcolm coughed, and stared into the distance. “Let’s be clear. The planet is not in jeopardy. We are in jeopardy. We haven’t got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/malcolm-coughed-and-stared-into-the-distance-let-s-be-clear-the/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [As if God's gonna let mankind destroy the planet with SUV's. It's silly, when you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-jackson/as-if-god-s-gonna-let-mankind-destroy-the-planet-with-suv-s-it-s/) [E.W. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-jackson/) > [The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-ability-to-destroy-a-planet-is-insignificant-next-to-the-power-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Quite honestly, if we do manage to destroy the planet with our devil-may-care attitude to natural resources, I'd suggest we leave, as a dossier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/quite-honestly-if-we-do-manage-to-destroy-the-planet-with-our-devil/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [If we are not sensible about this, in our ideas of wealth creation we may completely destroy the planet - which we are already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-we-are-not-sensible-about-this-in-our-ideas-of-wealth-creation-we/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [This planet is our home. If we destroy the planet, we've destroyed our home, so it is fundamentally important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/this-planet-is-our-home-if-we-destroy-the-planet-we-ve-destroyed-our/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) ## More by Tryon Edwards > [Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/science-has-sometimes-been-said-to-be-opposed-to-faith-and/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/credulity-is-belief-in-slight-evidence-with-no-evidence-or-against/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is another name for our ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-another-name-for-our-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/every-parting-is-a-form-of-death-as-every-reunion-is-a-type-of-heaven/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-poison-of-human-life-the-parent-of-many-sins-and-of/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-first-step-to-improvement-whether-mental-moral-or-religious-is-to/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [The leaves do not change color from the blighting touch of the frost, but from the process of natural decay. They fall when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/the-leaves-do-not-change-color-from-the-blighting-touch-of-the-frost/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Indolence is the dry rot of even a good mind and a good character; the practical uselessness of both. It is the waste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/indolence-is-the-dry-rot-of-even-a-good-mind-and-a-good-character-the/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [To rule one's anger is well; to prevent it is still better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-rule-one-s-anger-is-well-to-prevent-it-is-still-better/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/mystery-is-but-another-name-for-ignorance-if-we-were-omniscient-all/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [To rejoice in another prosperity, is to give content to your own lot: to mitigate another grief, is to alleviate or dispel your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/to-rejoice-in-another-prosperity-is-to-give-content-to-your-own-lot/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Hell is truth seen too late - duty neglected in its season](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/hell-is-truth-seen-too-late-duty-neglected-in-its-season/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [No true civilization can be expected permanently to continue which is not based on the great principles of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/no-true-civilization-can-be-expected-permanently-to-continue-which-is/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [My books are my tools, and the greater their variety and perfection the greater the help to my literary work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/my-books-are-my-tools-and-the-greater-their-variety-and-perfection/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [Anxiety is the rust of life, destroying its brightness and weakening its power. A childlike and abiding trust in Providence is its best preventive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/anxiety-is-the-rust-of-life-destroying-its-brightness-and-weakening/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) [Explore all 104 Tryon Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) ## More Power quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) [Browse all 17,893 Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We haven't got the power to destroy the planet -- or to save it. 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