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
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
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of living harmoniously with humanity, nature, and a higher power.
E. F. Schumacher's quote reflects on the need for humans to cultivate peaceful coexistence not only amongst themselves but also with the natural world and the divine forces that govern it. It implies that our existence is not a mere coincidence and encourages a deeper understanding of our place within the universe, stressing responsibility towards both nature and our spiritual awareness.
Themes
PeaceNatureHigher PowersCoexistenceResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a discussion about environmental sustainability.
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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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
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.
E. F. SchumacherRead
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