Breakthrough Quote by David Graeber
“If you want to minimize the possibility of unexpected breakthroughs, tell people they will receive no resources at all unless they spend the bulk of their time competing against each other to convince you they know in advance what they are going to discover.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Myth of the Meritocratic Competition,” 2013
Excessive competition stifles collaboration and unexpected innovation, limiting resources to those who compete rather than share.
In simple terms: Competition can block breakthroughs.
Key Takeaway
Foster collaborative environments.
Themes
innovation
competition
collaboration
Mood
critical
optimistic
Type
analytical
strategic
When to use this quote
- research labs
- startup ecosystems
- academic funding
- policy making
Key Concepts
economics
organizational behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance competition and cooperation?
- What incentives encourage sharing?
A Different Perspective
Some competition drives excellence.
![“Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company [team], coming to work everyday to find a better way, you don't have a company[team]. You're getting ready to die on the vine. You're always looking for the next…” quote by Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ed/jack-welch-1195_always-trying_innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-inv_111877.jpg)
