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We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources ... But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil and the gas are exhausted.
Theodore Roosevelt
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote warns about the consequences of overusing natural resources and the importance of sustainability.

Theodore Roosevelt's quote reflects a deep concern for the environmental impact of excessive exploitation of natural resources. It calls for serious introspection on the sustainability of such practices, highlighting the inevitability of resource depletion and urging society to consider the long-term implications of its actions on forests and fossil fuels. Roosevelt emphasizes that the prosperity gained through lavish resource use must be balanced with a commitment to conservation and preservation for future generations.

Themes

ResourcesSustainabilityEnvironmentConservationNature

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about environmental policy, one might reference this quote to emphasize the need for responsible resource management.

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