--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In our time, even the most seemingly…" description: "\"“In our time, even the most seemingly transgressive visions of technology in everyday life invariably fall back to the familiar furniture of capital in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg" --- # In our time, even the most seemingly transgressive visions… ![“In our time, even the most seemingly transgressive visions of technology in everyday life invariably fall back to the familiar furniture of capital investment, surplus extraction and exploitation. We don't even speak of progress any longer, but rather of 'innovation.” quote by Adam Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg) > ““In our time, even the most seemingly transgressive visions of technology in everyday life invariably fall back to the familiar furniture of capital investment, surplus extraction and exploitation. We don't even speak of progress any longer, but rather of 'innovation.”” [Adam Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-greenfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technology often reverts to profit‑driven motives, masking exploitation as innovation. **In simple terms:** Tech is driven by profit, not progress. Key Takeaway Question profit motives behind tech. Themes technology capitalism ethics Mood critical skeptical Type analytical critical When to use this quote - policy analysis - business strategy - consumer awareness Key Concepts exploitation surplus extraction innovation rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How does profit shape tech design? - What alternatives exist to profit‑first models? A Different Perspective Innovation can hide harmful practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-life/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Everyday life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday-life/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Longer Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longer-innovation-4605387/) [Seemingly Transgressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seemingly-transgressive-4605388/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Technology Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology-everyday-1290308/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Transgressive Visions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transgressive-visions-4605389/) ## Related quotes > [In a modern and innovative society, where advancements are plentiful and communication is instantaneous, science and technology are a part of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/in-a-modern-and-innovative-society-where-advancements-are-plentiful/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [I think is very important that Formula E can apply its technology to everyday cars and everyday usage just as F1 is sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/i-think-is-very-important-that-formula-e-can-apply-its-technology-to/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [ This is the industry that wants \[music\], the rap industry. You have to be on deck all the time, but you do not have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-thug/this-is-the-industry-that-wants-music-the-rap-industry-you-have-to-be/) [Young Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-thug/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [Families are like friends at school, at first you have no idea about them, but right after you talk talking and getting attach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asiya-sasika-khan/families-are-like-friends-at-school-at-first-you-have-no-idea-about/) [Asiya Sasika Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asiya-sasika-khan/) > [Ultimately, we want to provide people with a unique experience, and an unexpected one as well. We'd like people to leave the theater having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rania-attieh/ultimately-we-want-to-provide-people-with-a-unique-experience-and-an/) [Rania Attieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rania-attieh/) > [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [In daily or everyday life, I am so impressed with tiny details, like when I look up at a street lamp falling on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/in-daily-or-everyday-life-i-am-so-impressed-with-tiny-details-like/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [On my podcast, I got to interview Will Ferrell, Sam Hunt, Colin Cowherd - all these different names - and it was just really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/on-my-podcast-i-got-to-interview-will-ferrell-sam-hunt-colin-cowherd/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [“Let’s say you have an ax. Just a cheap one, from Home Depot. On one bitter winter day, you use said ax to behead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/let-s-say-you-have-an-ax-just-a-cheap-one-from-home-depot-on-one/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by Adam Greenfield > [“And for those of us who are motivated by commitment to a specifically participatory politics of the commons, it’s not at all clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/and-for-those-of-us-who-are-motivated-by-commitment-to-a-specifically/) [Adam Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-greenfield/) > [“Just as James Watt refused to license his steam engine, suppressing the development of that technology over the quarter century that elapsed between his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/just-as-james-watt-refused-to-license-his-steam-engine-suppressing/) [Adam Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-greenfield/) > [“Its first postulate is that the contemporary urban environment is so complex and so vexatious in its demands that no group of ordinary, unaided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/its-first-postulate-is-that-the-contemporary-urban-environment-is-so/) [Adam Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-greenfield/) [Explore all 4 Adam Greenfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-greenfield/) ## More Day life quotes > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [“Let’s say you have an ax. Just a cheap one, from Home Depot. On one bitter winter day, you use said ax to behead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/let-s-say-you-have-an-ax-just-a-cheap-one-from-home-depot-on-one/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [On my podcast, I got to interview Will Ferrell, Sam Hunt, Colin Cowherd - all these different names - and it was just really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-darnold/on-my-podcast-i-got-to-interview-will-ferrell-sam-hunt-colin-cowherd/) [Sam Darnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-darnold/) > [In daily or everyday life, I am so impressed with tiny details, like when I look up at a street lamp falling on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/in-daily-or-everyday-life-i-am-so-impressed-with-tiny-details-like/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [“There is a powerful difference between picturing an image that does not relate to you, and recalling something specific that you are connected with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/there-is-a-powerful-difference-between-picturing-an-image-that-does/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) > [Ultimately, we want to provide people with a unique experience, and an unexpected one as well. We'd like people to leave the theater having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rania-attieh/ultimately-we-want-to-provide-people-with-a-unique-experience-and-an/) [Rania Attieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rania-attieh/) > [Families are like friends at school, at first you have no idea about them, but right after you talk talking and getting attach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asiya-sasika-khan/families-are-like-friends-at-school-at-first-you-have-no-idea-about/) [Asiya Sasika Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asiya-sasika-khan/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [ This is the industry that wants \[music\], the rap industry. You have to be on deck all the time, but you do not have… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-thug/this-is-the-industry-that-wants-music-the-rap-industry-you-have-to-be/) [Young Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-thug/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [“During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/during-the-whole-of-a-dull-dark-and-soundless-day-in-the-autumn-of/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) [Browse all 1,479 Day life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In our time, even the most seemingly transgressive visions of technology in everyday life invariably fall back to the familiar furniture of capital investment, surplus extraction and exploitation. We don't even speak of progress any longer, but rather of 'innovation.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Greenfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-transgressive-visions-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Day life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-transgressive-visions-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/adam-greenfield-70300_day-life_in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-tran_2975932.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In our time, even the most seemingly transgressive visions of technology in everyday life invariably fall…” — Adam Greenfield", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Greenfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-greenfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In our time, even the most...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-transgressive-visions-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-greenfield/in-our-time-even-the-most-seemingly-transgressive-visions-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```