MILL AND THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
“THERE IS NOT MUCH SATISFACTION IN CONTEMPLATING A WORLD WITH NOTHING LEFT TO SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY OF NATURE; WITH EVERY ROOD OF LAND BROUGHT UNDER CULTIVATION…EVERY FLOWERY WASTE OF NATURAL PASTURE PLOUGHED UP, ALL QUADRUPEDS OR BIRDS WHICH ARE NOT DOMESTICATED FOR MAN’S USE EXTINGUISHED AS HIS RIVALS FOR FOOD, EVERY HEDGEROW OR TREE ROOTED OUT AND SCARCELY A PLACE WHERE A WILD FLOWER OR SHRUB COULD GROW WITHOUT BEING ERADICATED AS A WEED IN THE NAME OF IMPROVED AGRICULTURE. IF THE EARTH MUST LOSE THAT PORTION OF ITS PLEASANTNESS WHICH IT OWED TO THINGS THAT THE UNLIMITED INCREASE IN WEALTH AND POPULATION WOULD EXTIRPATE FROM IT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENABLING IT TO SUPPORT A LARGER, BUT NO BETTER OR HAPPIER POPULATION, I SINCERELY HOPE FOR THE SAKE OF POSTERITY, THAT THEY WILL BE CONTENT TO BE STATIONARY, LONG BEFORE NECESSITY COMPELS THEM TO IT”
PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY 1848