Scott Nearing Quotes

A collection of quotes by Scott Nearing.

Scott Nearing (1883-1983) was an American radical economist, pacifist, and advocate of simple living. Born in Morristown, New Jersey, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1906. He began his career as a professor of economics and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania and later at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce.

Nearing's early academic work focused on examining the causes of unemployment and economic inequality. As a result of his radical stance, he faced academic and public criticism, which led to his resignation from Wharton in 1915. After leaving academia, Nearing turned towards agricultural experiments and homesteading, finding solace and fulfillment in a simple and self-sufficient lifestyle.

In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Nearing and his wife Helen Knothe Nearing moved to an abandoned farm in Vermont, where they built a stone house and started a successful organic garden. This lifestyle choice became the foundation of their philosophy, which emphasized self-sufficiency, sustainability, and social and economic justice.

Nearing authored over fifty books on various topics, including economics, sociology, and social change. His most famous work, "Living the Good Life: How to Live Sanely and Simply in a Troubled World," published in 1954, became a seminal book on voluntary simplicity and sustainable living.

Scott Nearing's lifelong dedication to social justice, his advocacy for peace, and his commitment to living in harmony with nature continue to inspire generations concerned with economic inequality and environmental sustainability. He passed away in 1983 at the age of 100.