Edward O. Wilson: Economic Gain

Posted by admin on Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Edward O. Wilson Money Quote saying a forest destroyed to make money is like burning a beautiful painting to cook a meal. Edward O. Wilson said:
 

 

“Destroying forest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal” — Edward O. Wilson

 

 

In this quote, Edward O. Wilson is strongly criticizing the practice of destroying forests for short-term economic gain. He draws an analogy comparing the destruction of forests to burning a Renaissance painting, which represents an immense cultural and artistic value, just to cook a single meal. His point is that forests have immense ecological, environmental and biological value that takes centuries to develop, similar to the value of a Renaissance painting.

Therefore, destroying forests for temporary economic benefits is a short-sighted act that irrevocably damages something of immense and long-lasting worth, just as burning an invaluable painting would be, only to fulfill a trivial and fleeting need.