Modern agriculture is the use of land to convert petroleum into food.
Albert Allen BartlettRead
'Smart growth' destroys the environment. 'Dumb growth' destroys the environment. The only difference is that 'smart growth' does it with good taste. It's like booking passage on the Titanic. Whether you go first-class or steerage, the result is the same.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Both smart and dumb growth harm the environment, emphasizing that the method doesn't change the outcome.
This quote by Albert Allen Bartlett critiques the notion of 'smart growth,' suggesting that it still leads to environmental destruction, albeit in a more aesthetically pleasing way. He draws a parallel to the Titanic, arguing that regardless of whether one approaches problems with elegance or ignorance, the ultimate consequence remains the same: harm to the environment.
Themes
EnvironmentGrowthPhilosophySustainabilityDestruction
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about urban development, one might say, 'As Albert Allen Bartlett famously pointed out, 'smart growth' is still harmful to the environment.'
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