Picture a pasture open to all... The rational herdsman concludes that the only sensible course for him to pursue is to add another animal to his herd. And another; and another... But this is the conclusion reached by each and every rational herdsman sharing a commons. Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit-in a world that is limited.

Garrett Hardin

The Tragedy of the Commons

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Hardin, Garrett. "The Tragedy of the Commons." Science Magazine, 13 Dec. 1968.