Edward Abbey? Paul R. Ehrlich? Anne H. Ehrlich? Susan Buckingham? Arthur J. Cordell? Alan Gregg? Apocryphal?
Question for Quote Investigator: The rapid and uncontrolled proliferation of cells in the human body is a manifestation of cancer. Environmentalists and conservationists have employed a provocative analogy to criticize unconstrained economic development. Here are two versions:
(1) Perpetual growth is the creed of the cancer cell.
(2) Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.
This saying has been credited to essayist Edward Abbey, biologist Paul R. Ehrlich, and author Arthur J. Cordell. Would you please explore this topic?
Reply from Quote Investigator: The earliest close match located by QI appeared in “LOOK” magazine in November 1969 within an article titled “Land Lovers”. This photo-essay included quotations gathered from people who supported wilderness protection. Edward Abbey’s remarks included the following. Boldface added to excerpts by QI:1
“The real estate brokers, the engineers itching to build paved roads, have their hearts set on transforming the desert into a replica of greater Los Angeles. Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.”
Below are additional selected citations in chronological order.
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