60 Quotes by Kenneth E. Boulding

Every culture, or subculture, is defined by a set of common values, that is, generally agreed upon preferences. Without a core of common values a culture cannot exist, and we classify society into cultures and subcultures precisely because it is possible to identify groups who have common values.

A world of unseen dictatorship is conceivable, still using the forms of democratic government.

Accounting for the most part, remains a legalistic and traditional practice, almost immune to self-criticism by scientific methods.

Conflict may be defined as a situation of competition in which the parties are aware of the incompatibility of potential future positions, and in which each party wishes to occupy a position that is incompatible with the wishes of the other.

All knowledge is gained through an orderly loss of information.

The only religion that still demands human sacrifice is nationalism.

The future is bound to surprise us, but we don’t have to be dumbfounded.

Knowledge exists in minds, not in books. Before what has been found can be used by practitioners, someone must organize it, integrate it, extract the message.

The World is a very complex system. It is easy to have too simple a view of it, and it is easy to do harm and to make things worse under the impulse to do good and make things better.