Born Quote by Anonymous
“Our prevailing system of management has destroyed our people. People are born with intrinsic motivation, self-respect, dignity, curiosity to learn, joy in learning. The forces of destruction begin with toddlers - a prize for the best Halloween costume, grades in school, gold stars - and on up through the university. On the job people, teams, and divisions are ranked, reward for the top, punishment for the bottom. Management by Objectives, quotas, incentive pay, business plans, put together separately, division by division, cause further loss, unknown and unknowable.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that modern management systems suppress innate human motivation and dignity through competitive ranking and external rewards, leading to a loss of intrinsic curiosity and joy in learning.
In simple terms: Management kills intrinsic motivation.
Key Takeaway
Rethink incentives to nurture curiosity.
Themes
motivation
education
management
human dignity
intrinsic drive
Mood
critical
reflective
concerned
Type
advice
critical
reflective
When to use this quote
- schools
- workplaces
- team projects
- personal development
Key Concepts
psychology
organizational behavior
intrinsic motivation
education theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations foster intrinsic motivation?
- What alternatives to ranking exist?
A Different Perspective
External rewards can create dependency and reduce long‑term engagement.
![“[I]t is tragic that the forces for destruction that we unleashed are stronger than man's present ability to control them.” quote by Leslie Groves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/21b/leslie-groves-59231_ability_i-t-is-tragic-that-the-forces-for-destru_2098718.jpg)
