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It is an error to divide people into the living and the…

“It is an error to divide people into the living and the dead: there are people who are dead-alive, and people who are alive-alive. The dead-alive also write, walk, speak, act. But they make no mistakes; only machines make no mistakes, and they produce only dead things. The alive-alive are…” quote by Yevgeny Zamyatin
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“It is an error to divide people into the living and the dead: there are people who are dead-alive, and people who are alive-alive. The dead-alive also write, walk, speak, act. But they make no mistakes; only machines make no mistakes, and they produce only dead things. The alive-alive are constantly in error, in search, in questions, in torment.”

Yevgeny Zamyatin

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Dividing people into living and dead is false; some are "dead‑alive" (machines) and some "alive‑alive" (humans) who err, seek, and suffer.

In simple terms: Machines are flawless but lifeless; humans err and feel.

Key Takeaway

Embrace human imperfection as a sign of life.

Themes

humanity error existence

Mood

reflective philosophical

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

  • ethical AI
  • mental health
  • creative work
  • education

Key Concepts

philosophy technology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does it mean to be truly alive?
  • How can we balance precision with humanity?
A Different Perspective

Machines can be efficient but lack meaning.

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