“Temporary deviations from fundamental principles are always more or less dangerous. When the first pretext fails, those who become interested in prolonging the evil will rarely be at a loss for other pretexts.” FirstsEvilLossLibertyPrinciplesFailingDangerousFundamentalsTemporaryPretextFundamental PrinciplesDeviationProlonging Book:Selected Writings of James Madison Source: Selected Writings of James Madison
“The farmer and the farm, like "the environment," are looked upon, for example, as means to offset trade deficits. The farm is a place where we can externalize costs. The cost of pesticides to the farmer and the cost of the pesticides to the soil and groundwater are regarded similarly by the public: "a serious problem that something ought to be done about." But the problem is more fundamental than this glib statement would indicate, for soil pollution is an expense of production. So are pesticides and nitrates in our farm wells. So is the loss of farmers from the land.” WellsMeanDoneProblemLossEnvironmentLandExampleSeriousOughtCostFundamentalsTradeProductionsStatementsSoilExpensesFarmsFarmersPollutionDeficitPesticidesGroundwater Author:Wes Jackson
“There is a geographical element in all belief-saying what seem profound truths in India have a way of seeming enormous platitudes in England, and vice versa . Perhaps the fundamental difference is that beneath a tropical sun individuality seems less distinct and the loss of it less important.” WayImportantSeemsBeliefDifferencesLossSunElementsIndiaEnglandFundamentalsProfoundIndividualityVicesEnormousVice VersaSeemingTropicalPlatitudesProfound Truth Book:A kind of compulsion, 1903-1936 Source: A kind of compulsion, 1903-1936
“The work of the painter, the poet or the musician, like the myths and symbols of the savage, ought to be seen by us, if not as a superior form of knowledge, at least as the most fundamental and the only one really common to us all; scientific thought is merely the sharp point more penetrating because it has been whetted on the stone of fact, but at the cost of some loss of substance and its effectiveness is to be explained by its power to pierce sufficiently deeply for the main body of the tool to follow the head.” IfsHas BeensFactsBodyFormLossCommonPoetOughtCostMusicianToolsStonesFundamentalsMythSuperiorsPainterSymbolsSubstanceSavagesEffectivenessPierce Book:Tristes Tropiques Source: Tristes Tropiques
“What gets called 'the sixties' left a mixed legacy and a lot of divides. But it opened everything to question, and what seems the most fundamental and most pervasive in all the ensuing changes is the loss of faith in authority: the authority of government, of science, of patriarchy, of progress, of capitalism, of violence, of whiteness.” SeemsGovernmentLeftChangeLossProgressViolenceAuthorityCapitalismFundamentalsLegacyDividesSixtyPatriarchyWhitenessLoss Of Faith Author:Rebecca Solnit
“The erosion of agency has consequences for our politics. As a result of all this, the fundamental ethical challenge of the anthropocene is the recovery of agency, or alternatively to come to terms with its loss and to understand how to go on.” TermChallengesLossResultsGoes OnConsequenceFundamentalsRecoveryAgencyEthicalErosion Author:Dale Jamieson
“Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbelieving, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal. We all share basic needs for food, shelter, safety, and love. We all aspire to happiness and we all shun suffering. Each of us has hopes, worries, fears, and dreams. Each of us wants the best for our family and loved ones. We all experience pain when we suffer loss and joy when we achieve what we seek. On this fundamental level, religion, ethnicity, culture, and language make no difference.” MenWantInspirationalNeedsDreamPainJoySufferingCultureLanguageBlackDifferencesReligiousLossWhitePoorLevelsWorryRichShareAchieveEqualAnd LoveSafetyFundamentalsEducatedBuddhistOur FamilyChanging The WorldBrownLoved OnesShelterAspireEthnicityHaving HopeIlliterateBlack WhiteBasic NeedsRich Or PoorWorry FearCulture And LanguageFears And Dreams Author:Dalai Lama