I want to retain my own identity. Therefore the thing I’m…
““I want to retain my own identity. Therefore the thing I’m most anxious to avoid is any kind of work that can be considered ‘interesting’ in its own right. I want something that can’t possibly touch me. I want some big, swollen corporation that’s been bumbling along making money in its sleep for a hundred years, where they have to hire eight guys for every one job because none of them can be expected to care about whatever boring thing it is that they are supposed to be doing. I want to go into that kind of place and say, Look. You can have my body and my nice college-boy smile for so many hours a day, in exchange for so many dollars, and beyond that we’ll leave each other strictly alone.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He desires a detached, impersonal job to avoid personal involvement and emotional risk.
In simple terms: He wants a cold, corporate job to stay safe.
Key Takeaway
Consider balance between security and personal fulfillment.
Themes
career
identity
corporate culture
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- job search
- career counseling
- self‑assessment
Key Concepts
alienation
work-life balance
Questions to Reflect On
- Is safety worth losing self?
- What work gives you meaning?
A Different Perspective
Corporate jobs may stifle creativity and growth.