Donella Meadows

The human world is a long way from meeting the needs of the present, and it is borrowing massively from the future — not only by piling up money debt, but also by degrading the resources from which all real wealth ultimately comes.

Growth is a stupid goal. So, by the way, is no-growth.

Corporate responsibility extends not only to the customers, the resources and the workers of the present, but also to those of the future.

World fertility surveys indicate that anywhere from one third to one half of the babies born in the Third World would not be if their mothers had access to cheap, reliable family planning, had enough personal empowerment to stand up to their husbands and relatives, and could choose their own family size.

I know that war and mayhem run in our blood. I refuse to believe that they must dominate our lives. We humans are animals, too, but animals with amazing powers of rationality, morality, society. We can use our strength and courage not to savage each other, but to defend our highest purposes.

We don't need bigger cars or fancier clothes. We need self-respect, identity, community, love, variety, beauty, challenge and a purpose in living that is greater than material accumulation.