It was all so very businesslike that one watched it…
“It was all so very businesslike that one watched it fascinated. It was pork-making by machinery, pork-making by applied mathematics. And yet somehow the most matter-of-fact person could not help thinking of the hogs; they were so innocent, they came so very trustingly; and they were so very human in their protests - and so perfectly within their rights! They had done nothing to deserve it; and it was adding insult to injury, as the thing was done here, swinging them up in this cold-blooded, impersonal way, without pretence at apology, without the homage of a tear.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The industrial process dehumanizes both workers and animals, exposing cruelty hidden behind efficiency.
In simple terms: Businesslike efficiency hides cruelty.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge dehumanizing systems.
Themes
industrialization
dehumanization
ethics
animal rights
empathy
Mood
sorrowful
critical
reflective
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- factory work
- food production
- animal agriculture
- corporate policy
- consumer choices
Key Concepts
capitalism
mechanization
moral responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does efficiency justify cruelty?
- What responsibilities do consumers have?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize animal suffering without offering solutions.