--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To give organisations precedence over…" description: "\"“To give organisations precedence over persons is to subordinate ends to means.”\" — Aldous Huxley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg" --- # To give organisations precedence over persons is to… ![“To give organisations precedence over persons is to subordinate ends to means.” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg) > ““To give organisations precedence over persons is to subordinate ends to means.”” [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. Prioritizing organizations over individuals reduces people to mere means, undermining human dignity. **In simple terms:** Putting groups before people dehumanizes them. Key Takeaway Balance institutional goals with personal rights. Themes ethics human rights organization Mood critical concerned Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace policy - government law - nonprofit governance - education Key Concepts utilitarianism social philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure individuals aren't sacrificed for efficiency? - What safeguards protect personal autonomy? A Different Perspective Institutions can be necessary for coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Organisations Precedence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisations-precedence-6096260/) [Persons Subordinate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons-subordinate-1981120/) [Precedence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedence/) [Precedence Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedence-persons-6096261/) [Subordinate Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subordinate-ends-1981121/) ## Related quotes > [“It is not good in itself; it is good only to the extent that it promotes the good of the individuals who are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-is-not-good-in-itself-it-is-good-only-to-the-extent-that-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All important persons have about them someone in a subordinate position who has their ear. These dependents are very susceptible to slights, and, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/all-important-persons-have-about-them-someone-in-a-subordinate/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love enters the heart unawares: takes precedence of all the emotions--or, at least, will be second to none--and even reflection becomes its accomplice. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/love-enters-the-heart-unawares-takes-precedence-of-all-the-emotions/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [We've lost touch and allowed technology to take precedence over organic nature. But let's not forget that those microchips in our computers came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-estevez/we-ve-lost-touch-and-allowed-technology-to-take-precedence-over/) [Emilio Estevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-estevez/) > [ Kids absolutely not reading. I think it's because they're so screen-oriented \[TVs, computers, smartphones\]. They do read - girls in particular read a lot.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/kids-absolutely-not-reading-i-think-it-s-because-they-re-so-screen/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The films dramatic requirements should always take precedence over the mere aesthetics of editing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dmytryk/the-films-dramatic-requirements-should-always-take-precedence-over/) [Edward Dmytryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dmytryk/) > [I believe that sensory pleasure should take precedence over intellectual pleasure in art and architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-rudofsky/i-believe-that-sensory-pleasure-should-take-precedence-over/) [Bernard Rudofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-rudofsky/) > [Nature will take precedence over the needs of the modern man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/nature-will-take-precedence-over-the-needs-of-the-modern-man/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [The most basic task of any museum must be the protection of works of cultural significance entrusted to its care for the edification and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/the-most-basic-task-of-any-museum-must-be-the-protection-of-works-of/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [Historically the opposition to abortion and birth control ... stemmed from the urgency of the need to decrease the mortality and morbidity rates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/historically-the-opposition-to-abortion-and-birth-control-stemmed/) [Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/) > [Of all "rights" which command attention at the present time among us, woman's rights seem to take precedence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/of-all-rights-which-command-attention-at-the-present-time-among-us/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [The need of reason is not inspired by the quest for truth but by the quest for meaning. And truth and meaning are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-need-of-reason-is-not-inspired-by-the-quest-for-truth-but-by-the/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [The most interesting aspect for me, composing exclusively with patterns, is that there is not one organizational procedure more advantageous than another, perhaps because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-feldman/the-most-interesting-aspect-for-me-composing-exclusively-with/) [Morton Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-feldman/) > [Planning is an unnatural process; it is much more fun to do something. The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-jones/planning-is-an-unnatural-process-it-is-much-more-fun-to-do-something/) [John Harvey-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-jones/) > [People want their own laws to take precedence over those of the European Union. The French have understood that the EU does not live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/people-want-their-own-laws-to-take-precedence-over-those-of-the/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) ## 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 Precedence quotes > [People want their own laws to take precedence over those of the European Union. The French have understood that the EU does not live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/people-want-their-own-laws-to-take-precedence-over-those-of-the/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [Planning is an unnatural process; it is much more fun to do something. The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harvey-jones/planning-is-an-unnatural-process-it-is-much-more-fun-to-do-something/) [John Harvey-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harvey-jones/) > [The most interesting aspect for me, composing exclusively with patterns, is that there is not one organizational procedure more advantageous than another, perhaps because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-feldman/the-most-interesting-aspect-for-me-composing-exclusively-with/) [Morton Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-feldman/) > [The need of reason is not inspired by the quest for truth but by the quest for meaning. And truth and meaning are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-need-of-reason-is-not-inspired-by-the-quest-for-truth-but-by-the/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Of all "rights" which command attention at the present time among us, woman's rights seem to take precedence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/of-all-rights-which-command-attention-at-the-present-time-among-us/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [Historically the opposition to abortion and birth control ... stemmed from the urgency of the need to decrease the mortality and morbidity rates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/historically-the-opposition-to-abortion-and-birth-control-stemmed/) [Edith Summerskill, Baroness Summerskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-summerskill-baroness-summerskill/) > [The most basic task of any museum must be the protection of works of cultural significance entrusted to its care for the edification and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/the-most-basic-task-of-any-museum-must-be-the-protection-of-works-of/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [Nature will take precedence over the needs of the modern man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/nature-will-take-precedence-over-the-needs-of-the-modern-man/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I believe that sensory pleasure should take precedence over intellectual pleasure in art and architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-rudofsky/i-believe-that-sensory-pleasure-should-take-precedence-over/) [Bernard Rudofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-rudofsky/) > [The films dramatic requirements should always take precedence over the mere aesthetics of editing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dmytryk/the-films-dramatic-requirements-should-always-take-precedence-over/) [Edward Dmytryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dmytryk/) > [ Kids absolutely not reading. I think it's because they're so screen-oriented \[TVs, computers, smartphones\]. They do read - girls in particular read a lot.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/kids-absolutely-not-reading-i-think-it-s-because-they-re-so-screen/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [We've lost touch and allowed technology to take precedence over organic nature. But let's not forget that those microchips in our computers came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-estevez/we-ve-lost-touch-and-allowed-technology-to-take-precedence-over/) [Emilio Estevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-estevez/) > [Love enters the heart unawares: takes precedence of all the emotions--or, at least, will be second to none--and even reflection becomes its accomplice. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/love-enters-the-heart-unawares-takes-precedence-of-all-the-emotions/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/let-not-england-forget-her-precedence-of-teaching-nations-how-to-live/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [What is urgent will always take precedence over what is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/what-is-urgent-will-always-take-precedence-over-what-is-important/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) [Browse all 99 Precedence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precedence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To give organisations precedence over persons is to subordinate ends to means.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldous Huxley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-give-organisations-precedence-over-persons-is-to-subordinate-ends/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Precedence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-give-organisations-precedence-over-persons-is-to-subordinate-ends/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa0/aldous-huxley-97_precedence_to-give-organisations-precedence-over-pe_3228137.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To give organisations precedence over persons is to subordinate ends to means.” — Aldous Huxley", "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": "Aldous Huxley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“To give organisations precedence over persons...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-give-organisations-precedence-over-persons-is-to-subordinate-ends/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-give-organisations-precedence-over-persons-is-to-subordinate-ends/#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 } } ] } ```