The Victorian's loved their little phrases. All those writing exercises, embroidery workings, etc., A very old lady quoted one at me when we cleared the table and a milk jug was broken.
"God bless the cat who breaks the crock, in pieces very small,
For such a thing is good for trade, thus benefits us all"
Trade of one kind or another makes the world go around. It has been on the go for literally thousands of years.
I can't see us stopping it in any great hurry, despite plague, global warming and war.
Kipling, (forgive him his colonialism, it was very much normal for his time ) said though,
"These are the four that have never been filled since the Dews began— Jacala's mouth, and the glut of the Kite, and the hands of the Ape, and the Eyes of Man."
People want stuff, even those who follow the OCD inflicted M. Kendo, want stuff. They just throw it away more than the rest do.
Maybe we need to learn to live a little more simply so that others may simply live.....and reuse, repurpose, repair, recycle properly.
If only it were ever so easy........