We trust ourselves, far more than our ancestors did… The root of our predicament lies in the simple fact that, though we remain a flawed and unstable species, plagued now as in the past by a thousand weaknesses, we have insisted on both unlimited freedom and unlimited power. It would now seem clear that, if we want to stop the devastation of the earth, the growing threats to our food, water, air, and fellow creatures, we must find some way to limit both. Donald Worster
About This Quote

George Washington Plunkitt, a political boss of the late 19th century, was a master at getting his point across. In this quote, Plunkitt admits to being a flawed and unstable creature, yet he also indicates that humans have the ability to create solutions for these problems. While we may have flaws, we can also find ways to repair these problems.

Source: Under Western Skies: Nature And History In The American West

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More Quotes By Donald Worster
  1. We trust ourselves, far more than our ancestors did… The root of our predicament lies in the simple fact that, though we remain a flawed and unstable species, plagued now as in the past by a thousand weaknesses, we have insisted on both unlimited freedom...
  2. The marketplace is an institution that teaches self-advancement, private acquisition, and the domination of nature. Its way of thinking is incompatible with the round river. Ecological harmony is a nonmarket value that takes a collective will to achieve.
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