Hard systems are everything we're using right now - computers, phones, planes, the clothes you're wearing, the room you're in. Everything there involves 100% use of technology and expertise to make it, and nothing we make - including space exploration vehicles and so on - is complex. Everything we make is complicated. Nothing is self-renewing.

The quote, "Hard systems are everything we're using right now - computers, phones, planes, the clothes you're wearing, the room you're in. Everything there involves 100% use of technology and expertise to make it, and nothing we make - including space exploration vehicles and so on - is complex. Everything we make is complicated. Nothing is self-renewing," comes from Allan Savory, a prominent figure in holistic management and environmental sustainability. In this statement, Savory distinguishes between complexity and complication, asserting that the systems and technologies we rely on—such as computers, phones, and planes—are not truly complex but rather complicated. He argues that these systems require constant expertise and maintenance to function, and none of them are self-renewing or inherently sustainable.

The origin of this quote lies in Savory’s broader critique of modern technology and how it contrasts with natural systems. While human-made systems are heavily reliant on technology and external resources, they lack the inherent ability to self-renew, unlike natural systems such as ecosystems, which are often more resilient and capable of sustaining themselves over time. Savory’s work focuses on promoting practices that work with the environment to ensure long-term sustainability, and this quote reflects his concern that modern human systems fail to achieve the same level of self-sufficiency.

In a broader context, the quote speaks to the difference between the human-made world and the natural world. Savory contrasts the complicated nature of human systems—systems that require constant input, resources, and maintenance—with the more dynamic and self-sustaining systems found in nature. The quote challenges the prevailing view that technology and progress lead to better, more advanced solutions, suggesting that truly sustainable systems might be more interdependent and renewable in nature.

Ultimately, Savory’s quote emphasizes the need to rethink how we approach innovation and progress. It serves as a reminder that while human technologies can be powerful and transformative, they often come at a cost in terms of sustainability and resource dependency. By recognizing the difference between complexity and complication, Savory encourages a deeper understanding of how we can create systems that are more in harmony with the self-renewing processes of the natural world.