Paul Hawken Quotes

A collection of quotes by Paul Hawken.

Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, author, entrepreneur, and activist, widely recognized for his work in sustainability and climate change. Born in 1946 in California, Hawken grew up with a deep reverence for nature and developed a keen interest in ecological issues. He received a BA in economics and literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and later attended the Harvard Business School, though he left without completing his degree.

In the 1970s, Hawken co-founded Erewhon Trading Company, an organic food retail/distribution company, which played a crucial role in raising awareness about the benefits of sustainable agriculture. He went on to establish several other successful businesses, such as Smith & Hawken, a garden supply company, and One Sun Solar, a solar energy company.

Hawken's bestselling book, "The Ecology of Commerce," published in 1993, explored the relationship between business and the environment and proposed innovative solutions for sustainable practices in the corporate world. He has authored numerous other influential books, including "Blessed Unrest," which focuses on the vast global movement for social and environmental justice.

A sought-after speaker and consultant, Hawken has been a passionate advocate for environmental and social change for decades. He co-founded Project Drawdown, a comprehensive plan to reverse global warming, which has become a significant resource for policymakers, businesses, and individuals seeking practical solutions to climate change.

Throughout his career, Paul Hawken has blended his entrepreneurial acumen with his commitment to preserving the planet, making him a prominent figure in the fight against climate change and a source of inspiration for many.

People are naming it the Third Wave, the Information Age, et

People are naming it the Third Wave, the Information Age, etc. but I would say those are basically technological descriptions, and this next shift is not about technology - although obviously it will be influenced and in some cases expressed by technologies.

Paul Hawken


As a small businessperson, you have no greater leverage than

As a small businessperson, you have no greater leverage than the truth.

Paul Hawken

Business

The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have

The luck of having talent is not enough; one must also have a talent for luck.

Paul Hawken

Luck

We assume that everything's becoming more efficient, and in

We assume that everything's becoming more efficient, and in an immediate sense that's true our lives are better in many ways. But that improvement has been gained through a massively inefficient use of natural resources.

Paul Hawken

Environmental

I think an old style of addressing environmental problems is

I think an old style of addressing environmental problems is ebbing, but the rise of the so-called conservative, political movement in this country is not a trend towards the future but a reaction to this very broad shift that we are undergoing.

Paul Hawken

Environmental

We are now heading down a centuries-long path toward increas

We are now heading down a centuries-long path toward increasing the productivity of our natural capital - the resource systems upon which we depend to live - instead of our human capital.

Paul Hawken

Environmental

We are losing our living systems, social systems, cultural s

We are losing our living systems, social systems, cultural systems, governing systems, stability, and our constitutional health, and we're surrendering it all at the same time.

Paul Hawken

Health

All is connected... no one thing can change by itself.

All is connected... no one thing can change by itself.

Paul Hawken

Change

Good management is the art of making problems so interesting

Good management is the art of making problems so interesting and their solutions so constructive that everyone wants to get to work and deal with them.

Paul Hawken

Art