To bring about destruction by overcrowding, mass starvation, anarchy, the destruction of our most cherished values, there is no need to do anything. We need only do nothing except what comes naturally, and breed. And how easy it is to do nothing
Interpretation
The quote warns of the dangers of inaction in the face of societal issues, emphasizing that neglect can lead to collapse.
Isaac Asimov's quote highlights the inherent dangers of apathy and inaction regarding important societal challenges. It suggests that while the act of breeding, or contributing to population growth, may come naturally, doing nothing about the accompanying social and environmental issues can lead to severe consequences such as destruction and chaos. Asimov challenges us to recognize that inaction is itself a choice that can result in negative outcomes, emphasizing the importance of being proactive in safeguarding our values and society.
In practice
During a discussion on environmental issues, one might quote this to stress the importance of activism.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation.
Although the time of death is approaching me, I am not afraid of dying and going to Hell or (what would be considerably worse) going to the popularized version of Heaven. I expect death to be nothingness and, for removing me from all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism.
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
During the century after Newton, it was still possible for a man of unusual attainments to master all fields of scientific knowledge. But by 1800, this had become entirely impracticable.
The water has a Water that is driving it; _x000D_ The spirit has a Spirit that is Calling it.
The humiliation I go through/when I think of my past/can only be described as grace./We are created by being destroyed.
Instead of gambling on the eternal impossibility of the revolution and on the fascist return of a war-machine in general, why not think that a new type of revolution is in the course of becoming possible, and that all kinds of mutating, living machines conduct wars, are combined and trace out a plane of consistance which undermines the plane of organization of the World and the States?
I've reached the point where I hardly care whether I live or die. The world will keep on turning without me, I can't do anything to change events anyway.
we unwittingly project onto God our own attitudes and feelings toward ourselves... But we cannot assume that He feels about us the way we feel about ourselves -- unless we love ourselves compassionately, intensely, and freely.
The belief in authority is the source of conscience; which is therefore not the voice of God in the heart of man, but the voice of some men in man.
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