Life Quote by Wendell Berry
““Soon the majority of the world’s people will be living in cities. We are now obliged to think of so many people demanding the means of life from the land, to which they will no longer have a practical connection, and of which they will have little knowledge. We are obliged also to think of the consequences of any attempt to meet this demand by large-scale, expensive, petroleum-dependent technological schemes that will ignore local conditions and local needs.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Unsettling of America” by Wendell Berry, 1977
Urbanization disconnects people from land, risking reliance on distant, costly, fossil‑fuel solutions that ignore local needs.
In simple terms: Cities separate people from the land, leading to costly, distant solutions.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize local, sustainable resource strategies.
Themes
urbanization
environment
sustainability
localism
technology
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- agricultural policy
- community development
- energy infrastructure
Key Concepts
ecology
systems thinking
resource management
Questions to Reflect On
- How can cities maintain a connection to local ecosystems?
- What alternatives reduce dependence on petroleum?
A Different Perspective
Large‑scale tech may overlook cultural and ecological nuances.
