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Quote by Garrett Hardin

“The rational herdsman concludes that the only sensible course for him to pursue is to add another animal to his herd. And another; and another . . . But this is the conclusion reached by each and every rational herdsman sharing a commons. Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit — in a world that is limited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all.”

Author

Garrett Hardin

Garrett Hardin, an ecologist, was born on April 21, 1915, and passed away on September 14, 2003. He is renowned for his theory of the 'Tragedy of the Commons,' which explores the issue of resource overuse. more

“No one can define or measure justice, democracy, security, freedom, truth, or love. No one can define or measure any value. But if no one speaks up for them, if systems aren’t designed to produce them, if we don’t speak about them and point toward their presence or absence, they will cease to exist.”

Ifs Values Speak Justice Democracy Security Produce Absence Cease

Book:Thinking in Systems: A Primer

Source: Thinking in Systems: A Primer

“There are no separate systems. The world is a continuum. Where to draw a boundary around a system depends on the purpose of the discussion.”

World Purpose Depends Draws Boundaries Discussion Continuum

Book:Thinking in Systems: A Primer

Source: Thinking in Systems: A Primer

“Speak the truth. Speak it loud and often, calmly but insistently, and speak it, as the Quakers say, to power. Material accumulation is not the purpose of human existence. All growth is not good. The environment is a necessity, not a luxury. There is such a thing as enough.”

Humans Enough Purpose Speak Growth Existence Environment Materials Luxury Loud Accumulation Human Existence Speak The Truth Quaker

Author:Donella Meadows

“How do we appreciate the good without letting it be the enemy of the perfect? How do we keep a step in the right direction from becoming a stopping point? How do we get beyond shades of insipid light green?”