A finite world can support only a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero. Garrett Hardin More Quotes by Garrett Hardin More Quotes From Garrett Hardin You cannot do only one thing. Garrett Hardin one-thing There is nothing more dangerous than a shallow thinking compassionate person Garrett Hardin shallow dangerous thinking Why are ecologists and environmentalists so feared and hated? This is because in part what they have to say is new to the general public, and the new is always alarming. Garrett Hardin environmentalist environmental hated Society does not need more children; but it does need more loved children. Quite literally, we cannot afford unloved children - but we pay heavily for them every day. There should not be the slightest communal concern when a woman elects to destroy the life of her thousandth-of-an-ounce embryo. But all society should rise up in alarm when it hears that a baby that is not wanted is about to be born. Garrett Hardin feminist baby children In a competitive world of limited resources, total freedom of individual action is intolerable Garrett Hardin limited-resources action world The rational herdsman concludes that the only sensible course for him to pursue is to add another animal to his herd. And another; and another . . . But this is the conclusion reached by each and every rational herdsman sharing a commons. Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit — in a world that is limited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all. Garrett Hardin animal men believe Ecology is the overall science of which economics is a minor speciality. Garrett Hardin ecology minors economics No one should be able to enter a wilderness by mechanical means. Garrett Hardin environmental able mean The only thing we can really count on in this uncertain world is human unreliability itself. Garrett Hardin unreliability uncertain world Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all. Garrett Hardin ruins Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Garrett Hardin ruins men believe It takes five years for a willing person's mind to change. Have patience with yourself and others when treading in an area protected by a taboo. Garrett Hardin atheism mind years Every measured thing is part of a web of variables more richly interconnected than we know. Garrett Hardin interconnected variables knows The Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society. It follows that any choice and decision with regard to the size of the family must irrevocably rest with the family itself, and cannot be made by anyone else. Garrett Hardin choices decision rights The exquisite sight, sound, and smell of wilderness is many times more powerful if it is earned through physical achievement, if it comes at the end of a long and fatiguing trip for which vigorous good health is necessary. Practically speaking, this means that no one should be able to enter a wilderness by mechanical means. Garrett Hardin powerful mother mean A technical solution may be defined as one that requires a change only in the techniques of the natural sciences, demanding little or nothing in the way of change in human values or ideas of morality. Garrett Hardin technique may ideas People are the quintessential element in all technology... Once we recognize the inescapable human nexus of all technology our attitude toward the reliability problem is fundamentally changed. Garrett Hardin technology attitude people The only kind of coercion I recommend is mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon by the majority of the people affected. Garrett Hardin majority coercion people The population problem has no technical solution; it requires a fundamental extension in morality. Garrett Hardin population-problem morality fundamentals Ecological differentiation is the necessary condition for coexistence. Garrett Hardin ecological ecology differentiation