E. F. Schumacher Quotes

A collection of quotes by E. F. Schumacher.

E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977) was a prominent British economist whose work focused on sustainable development and human-scale economics. He is best known for his influential book "Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered" (1973), in which he argued for the importance of small-scale, locally based economies and the need to find alternatives to mainstream, growth-oriented economics. Schumacher's ideas continue to inspire and shape the field of ecological economics, as well as the broader movement toward sustainable living and mindful consumption.

Infinite growth of material consumption in a finite world is

Infinite growth of material consumption in a finite world is an impossibility.

E. F. Schumacher


Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.

E. F. Schumacher


The system of nature, of which man is a part, tends to be se

The system of nature, of which man is a part, tends to be self-balancing, self-adjusting, self-cleansing. Not so with technology.

E. F. Schumacher

Technology