Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by E. F. Schumacher (British Economist)

E. F. Schumacher (1911–77,) fully Ernst Friedrich Schumacher, was a German-born British economist and statistician known for advocating sustainable development, appropriate technology, and human-centered economics. His ideas challenged conventional models, emphasizing small-scale, decentralized solutions.

Born in Bonn, Germany, he studied economics at the University of Bonn, the University of Berlin, and later at Oxford and Columbia. Moving to England before World War II, he was briefly interned as an “enemy alien” before gaining recognition for his economic insights. He worked under John Maynard Keynes and later served as Chief Economic Advisor to the British National Coal Board (1950–70,) promoting conservation and sustainable resource management.

His most influential work, Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered (1973,) critiques large-scale industrialization and advocates localized, sustainable economies. His A Guide for the Perplexed (1977) explores philosophical and ethical dimensions of knowledge and human purpose. He also developed the concept of “Buddhist economics,” emphasizing meaningful work and minimal resource consumption.

In 1966, Schumacher founded the Intermediate Technology Development Group (now Practical Action,) promoting appropriate technology for developing nations. Joseph Pearce’s Small Is Still Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered (2008) examines his economic philosophy and its influence on environmental movements and alternative economic models.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by E. F. Schumacher

I have no doubt that it is possible to give a new direction to technological development, a direction that shall lead it back to the real needs of man, and that also means: to the actual size of man. Man is small, and, therefore, small is beautiful. To go for giantism is to go for self-destruction.
—E. F. Schumacher
Topics: Technology

Many people love in themselves what they hate in others.
—E. F. Schumacher
Topics: Behavior, Manners, Hate

Call a thing immoral or ugly, soul-destroying or a degradation of man, a peril to the peace of the world or to the well-being of future generations; as long as you have not shown it to be “uneconomic” you have not really questioned its right to exist, grow, and prosper.
—E. F. Schumacher
Topics: Economics

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.
—E. F. Schumacher
Topics: Genius, Simple Living, Simplicity, Technology, Intelligence

Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns and that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns; but that is of interest only to pigs. Our faith gives us knowledge of something better: that we can become oak trees.
—E. F. Schumacher
Topics: Confidence

An attitude to life which seeks fulfillment in the single-minded pursuit of wealth—in short, materialism—does not fit into this world, because it contains within itself no limiting principle, while the environment in which it is placed is strictly limited.
—E. F. Schumacher
Topics: Attitude

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