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About this quote

What does it mean?
Earth provides enough for every man's needs, but not for every man's greed.
In plain terms
The planet can meet needs, not unlimited desires.
What can you take from it?
Limit greed to ensure resources for all.

Where it applies

  • environmental policy
  • personal consumption

Putting it to work

  • promote sustainable living
  • encourage equitable distribution

Questions to consider

  • How do we distinguish essential needs from excess?
  • What policies can curb collective?

Another view

Defining 'needs' versus 'greed' can be subjective.

More from Mahatma Gandhi

  1. Corruption ought not to be an inevitable product of democracy.

    Permalink to quote #136
  2. Even as a tree has a single trunk but many branches and leaves, there is one religion - human religion - but any number of faiths.

    Permalink to quote #138
  3. As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the 'atomic age' - as in being able to remake ourselves.

    Permalink to quote #135

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