When asked whether he was pessimistic or optimistic about the future, Hawken gave this now-famous answer that held both realities in tension. The scientific data was undeniably grim, but the human response was undeniably inspiring. He described seeing ordinary people everywhere in the world willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds to restore grace, justice, and beauty. He called this the largest movement the world has ever seen, made up of teachers, children, farmers, nuns, artists, doctors, poets, and millions of others working on climate change, poverty, conservation, and human rights. No one knows the true size of this movement, he said, but it provides hope, support, and meaning to billions of people.