The real problems of our planet are not economic or technical, they are philosophical. The philosophy of unbridled materialism is being challenged by events.
E. F. SchumacherRead
Economic policies absorb almost the entire attention of government, and at the same time become ever more impotent. The simplest things, which only fifty years ago one could do without difficulty, cannot get done any more. The richer a society, the more impossible it become to do worthwhile things without immediate payoff.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Economic policies often dominate government focus, leading to inefficiencies and an inability to accomplish simple tasks as society becomes wealthier.
E. F. Schumacher's quote reflects on how the focus of government on complex economic policies can lead to a paradox where, despite the wealth of a society, simple and worthwhile tasks become increasingly difficult to achieve. He suggests that as societies grow richer, they often lose sight of the intrinsic value of actions that do not yield immediate financial returns, leading to a disconnect between economic success and meaningful progress.
Themes
Economic PoliciesSocietyWorthwhile ActionsGovernment Focus
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the challenges faced by modern governments in addressing simple societal needs.
More from E. F. Schumacher
All quotes →The substance of man cannot be measured by Gross National Product.
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The printing press is either the greatest blessing or the greatest curse of modern times, sometimes one forgets which it is.
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By means of trees, wildlife could be conserved, pollution decreased, and the beauty of our landscapes enhanced. This is the way, or at least one of the ways, to spiritual, moral, and cultural regeneration.
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We still have to learn how to live peacefully, not only with our fellow men but also with nature and, above all, with those Higher Powers which have made nature and have made us; for, assuredly, we have not come about by accident and certainly have not made ourselves
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The heart of the matter, as I see it, is the stark fact that world poverty is primarily a problem of two million villages, and thus a problem of two thousand million villagers.
E. F. SchumacherRead
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