Agriculture Quote by Wendell Berry
![“If [the loss of fertility of the soil and the loss of soil as a renewable resource] does happen, we are familiar enough with the nature of American salesmanship to know that it will be done in the name of the starving millions, in the name of liberty, justice, democracy, and brotherhood, and to…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/wendell-berry-236_agriculture_if-the-loss-of-fertility-of-the-soil-and_2502832.jpg)
““If [the loss of fertility of the soil and the loss of soil as a renewable resource] does happen, we are familiar enough with the nature of American salesmanship to know that it will be done in the name of the starving millions, in the name of liberty, justice, democracy, and brotherhood, and to free the world from communism. We must, I think, be prepared to see, and to stand by, the truth: that the land should not be destroyed for any reason, not even for any apparently good reason. We must be prepared to say that enough food, year after year, is possible only for a limited number of peaople, and that this possibility can be preserved only by the steadfast, knowledgeable care of those people.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Land and Its People, 1975
He warns that exploiting soil for profit threatens food security, urging stewardship over short‑term gains.
In simple terms: Exploiting soil harms future food supply.
Key Takeaway
Protect soil for future generations.
Themes
environment
agriculture
ethics
resource management
future generations
Mood
reflective
urgent
Type
environmental
philosophical
When to use this quote
- farming practices
- policy making
- community education
Key Concepts
sustainability
soil health
food security
political rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance food production with soil health?
- What policies protect soil for future generations?
A Different Perspective
Economic pressures often outweigh ecological concerns.
![“two principal problems. First problem: To produce wealth. Second problem: To distribute it… England solves the first of these two problems. She creates wealth wonderfully; she distributes it badly… [she has] a grandeur ill constituted, in which all the material elements are combined, and into…” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/758/victor-hugo-32_money_two-principal-problems-first-problem-to_1033325.jpg)
