--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alpha children wear grey. They work much…" description: "\"Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/aldous-huxley-97_able_alpha-children-wear-grey-they-work-much_1733128.jpg" --- # Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we… ![“Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I…” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/aldous-huxley-97_able_alpha-children-wear-grey-they-work-much_1733128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/aldous-huxley-97_able_alpha-children-wear-grey-they-work-much_1733128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/aldous-huxley-97_able_alpha-children-wear-grey-they-work-much_1733128.jpg) > “Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. Besides they wear black, which is such a beastly color. I'm so glad I'm a Beta.” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social hierarchies are constructed, with arbitrary distinctions that justify inequality. **In simple terms:** Class labels are arbitrary and harmful. Key Takeaway Question and challenge unjust hierarchies. Themes social stratification inequality identity power Mood critical provocative Type social political When to use this quote - workplace - education - policy - activism Key Concepts sociology critical theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you see class labels affecting you? - What can be done to reduce arbitrary hierarchies? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is difficult and may meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alphas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphas/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grey/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-plomp/the-one-thing-children-wear-out-faster-than-shoes-is-parents/) John J Plomp > [Children must always wear a seat belt...Except if you put 50 of them in one vehicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-must-always-wear-a-seat-belt-except-if-you-put-50-of-them-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the children had to wear a gas mask in case of a gas attack by the Germans. They tried to make the masks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-scarfe/all-the-children-had-to-wear-a-gas-mask-in-case-of-a-gas-attack-by/) [Gerald Scarfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-scarfe/) > [Children wear their natures like brightly-colored clothes; that's why they lie so transparently. Adulthood is the art of deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/children-wear-their-natures-like-brightly-colored-clothes-that-s-why/) [Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/) > [When you read a book, you generate beta waves irrespective of the book's content. But if you look up from it, and start watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-shlain/when-you-read-a-book-you-generate-beta-waves-irrespective-of-the-book/) [Leonard Shlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-shlain/) > [When I was nine, I was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and was prescribed beta blockers, which had the side effect of turning my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-j/when-i-was-nine-i-was-diagnosed-with-an-irregular-heartbeat-and-was/) [Jessie J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-j/) > [It was very early, and we were still like beta or alpha stage, and so we started receiving a ton of download. The server…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-fanning/it-was-very-early-and-we-were-still-like-beta-or-alpha-stage-and-so/) [Shawn Fanning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-fanning/) > [“Finished ought to be an F-word for all of us. We are all works in progress. Each day presents an opportunity to learn more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finished-ought-to-be-an-f-word-for-all-of-us-we-are-all-works-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In a show that has so many neurotic, broken beta characters, it's always fun to bring in a character who's really confident in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/in-a-show-that-has-so-many-neurotic-broken-beta-characters-it-s/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) > [“Maybe your unspeakable defects give you power too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/maybe-your-unspeakable-defects-give-you-power-too/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [Beta and modern portfolio theory and the like - none of it makes any sense to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/beta-and-modern-portfolio-theory-and-the-like-none-of-it-makes-any/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“Beta testing is a symptom of weak testing practices and poor communication with customers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/beta-testing-is-a-symptom-of-weak-testing-practices-and-poor/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [The enzyme beta-glucoronidase is necessary to ...'trigger off'.. laetrile…after the laetrile injection, we injected directly into the tumor...beta-glucoronidase. The result was white slough which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-arthur-harris-1st-baronet/the-enzyme-beta-glucoronidase-is-necessary-to-trigger-off-laetrile/) [Sir Arthur Harris, 1st Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-arthur-harris-1st-baronet/) > [Cute. I'm on the waitlist to beta a new product, and have been offered the chance to move up in the list if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/cute-i-m-on-the-waitlist-to-beta-a-new-product-and-have-been-offered/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [“Therefore, alpha and beta testing are Product Development functions that belong to engineering. They are about validating the product technically, not the market.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gary-blank/therefore-alpha-and-beta-testing-are-product-development-functions/) [Steven Gary Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gary-blank/) ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Then what’s time for?” asked Lenina in some astonishment. Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. 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