--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've commissioned an adaptation of 'The…" description: "\"I've commissioned an adaptation of 'The Jungle', by Upton Sinclair, a story of a young immigrant from Lithuania to the meat-packing industry of Chicago..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/david-schwimmer-8353_adaptation_i-ve-commissioned-an-adaptation-of-the-j_2515286.jpg" --- # I've commissioned an adaptation of 'The Jungle', by Upton… ![“I've commissioned an adaptation of 'The Jungle', by Upton Sinclair, a story of a young immigrant from Lithuania to the meat-packing industry of Chicago in 1904, and the rise of the unions in America.” quote by David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/david-schwimmer-8353_adaptation_i-ve-commissioned-an-adaptation-of-the-j_2515286.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/david-schwimmer-8353_adaptation_i-ve-commissioned-an-adaptation-of-the-j_2515286.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/david-schwimmer-8353_adaptation_i-ve-commissioned-an-adaptation-of-the-j_2515286.jpg) > “I've commissioned an adaptation of 'The Jungle', by Upton Sinclair, a story of a young immigrant from Lithuania to the meat-packing industry of Chicago in 1904, and the rise of the unions in America.” [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of early 20th‑century industrial labor exploitation and the power of collective action to improve workers’ lives. **In simple terms:** The book exposes harsh factory conditions and shows unions can bring change. Key Takeaway Support workers’ rights and fair labor practices. Themes labor rights social justice industrialization immigrant experience unionism Mood ouustrated determined hopeful Type historical activist educational When to use this quote - labor organizing - policy advocacy - consumer awareness - historical education - workers’ health initiatives Key Concepts capitalism exploitation collective bargaining immigration economic inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can we apply Sinclair’s warnings to today’s gig economy? - What role should consumers play in demanding ethical production? A Different Perspective The narrative may oversimplify complex economic forces and can be dated for modern contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) [Adaptation Jungle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation-jungle-1195089/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [Commissioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commissioned/) [Commissioned Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commissioned-adaptation-1195091/) [Immigrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigrant/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Jungle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jungle/) [Jungle Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jungle-upton-1195092/) [Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise/) [Sinclair Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinclair-story-1195090/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Unions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unions/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upton-sinclair/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [To the best of my knowledge and belief, the average American newspaper, even of the so-called better sort, is not only quite as bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-and-belief-the-average-american-newspaper-2/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I had never read Upton Sinclair. I didn't read 'The Jungle' in high school or anything like that. But it's pretty terrific writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-had-never-read-upton-sinclair-i-didn-t-read-the-jungle-in-high/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) > [The Upton Sinclair of today's global economy is Charles Kernaghan, the New York based muckraker most famous for his expose of sweatshops producing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-derber/the-upton-sinclair-of-today-s-global-economy-is-charles-kernaghan-the/) [Charles Derber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-derber/) > [Upton Sinclair is his own King Charles' head. He cannot keep himself out of his writings, try though he may; or, by this time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/upton-sinclair-is-his-own-king-charles-head-he-cannot-keep-himself/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [ Despite his persecutions, Mr. \[Upton\] Sinclair reveals himself in Money Writes! to be an enviable man. Always the thing he desires to believe is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/despite-his-persecutions-mr-upton-sinclair-reveals-himself-in-money/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [To the best of my knowledge and belief, the average American newspaper, even of the so-called better sort, is not only quite as bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-and-belief-the-average-american-newspaper/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Upton Sinclair once said, ‘It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/upton-sinclair-once-said-it-is-difficult-to-get-a-man-to-understand/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [I have a hunger for justice, but art is a place I've always enjoyed being able to be free - to live in worlds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/i-have-a-hunger-for-justice-but-art-is-a-place-i-ve-always-enjoyed/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.’ – Upton Sinclair, American writer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-noakes/it-is-difficult-to-get-a-man-to-understand-something-when-his-salary/) [Tim Noakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-noakes/) > [“In 1934, after Upton Sinclair was defeated in his campaign to become the next governor of California, he labeled the advertising concern that defeated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/in-1934-after-upton-sinclair-was-defeated-in-his-campaign-to-become/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [With iron and blood, it seems, and from the rich depths of the earth, John Griswold has fashioned a classic American novel, its dignified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-shacochis/with-iron-and-blood-it-seems-and-from-the-rich-depths-of-the-earth/) [Bob Shacochis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-shacochis/) > [“I want you to stop being subhuman and become 'yourself'. 'Yourself,' I say. Not the newspaper you read, not your vicious neighbor's opinion, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/i-want-you-to-stop-being-subhuman-and-become-yourself-yourself-i-say/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [“Upton Sinclair once noted, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/upton-sinclair-once-noted-it-is-difficult-to-get-a-man-to-understand/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [I never consciously set out to model myself after Upton Sinclair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/i-never-consciously-set-out-to-model-myself-after-upton-sinclair/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [“The novelist is like a scout commissioned to go and see what is happening in the depth of the soul. He comes back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-green/the-novelist-is-like-a-scout-commissioned-to-go-and-see-what-is/) [Julien Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-green/) ## More by David Schwimmer > [There's nothing like a play. It's so immediate and every performance is different. As an actor, you have the most control over what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/there-s-nothing-like-a-play-it-s-so-immediate-and-every-performance/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [Relax and be yourself, as if you'd ever just be standing in front of a camera not talking to anyone! It's very odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/relax-and-be-yourself-as-if-you-d-ever-just-be-standing-in-front-of-a/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [When you're playing the same character for a decade it's natural that there are moments when you want to try something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/when-you-re-playing-the-same-character-for-a-decade-it-s-natural-that/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I was a geek in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-was-a-geek-in-high-school/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I don't think I responded very well to the sudden celebrity, the sudden fame, and the loss of privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-don-t-think-i-responded-very-well-to-the-sudden-celebrity-the/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I think a huge amount of it is because of the Internet. Every single thing in the world is accessible with a few clicks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-think-a-huge-amount-of-it-is-because-of-the-internet-every-single/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [As an actor, the training I received was that I walk through the world as an observer of life and of people. My job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/as-an-actor-the-training-i-received-was-that-i-walk-through-the-world/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [Sometimes I've felt that the industry has typecast me as a certain kind of character. But then I think all it really takes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/sometimes-i-ve-felt-that-the-industry-has-typecast-me-as-a-certain/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I'm very goal oriented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-m-very-goal-oriented/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [Directing takes a lot longer than acting. This was about seven years in development, and then two and a half years with pre-production, production,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/directing-takes-a-lot-longer-than-acting-this-was-about-seven-years/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [I'm often asked whether Friends has been an albatross around my neck, or whether people only see me as 'Ross from Friends, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-m-often-asked-whether-friends-has-been-an-albatross-around-my-neck/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [There is a danger, if you cast someone who is 18, 19 or 20 to play 14 or 15, that very subtly, almost unconsciously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/there-is-a-danger-if-you-cast-someone-who-is-18-19-or-20-to-play-14/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [There are days when I think: what if I just checked out? 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I'm very happy that I can now support my theatre company and support friends and family, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-ve-made-a-good-amount-of-money-i-m-very-happy-that-i-can-now/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) [Explore all 81 David Schwimmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) ## More Adaptation quotes > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [My familiarity with the successful use of very long steel ropes for mining purposes naturally suggested their adaptation to the new purpose of deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-agassiz/my-familiarity-with-the-successful-use-of-very-long-steel-ropes-for/) [Alexander Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-agassiz/) > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-facts-of-variability-of-the-struggle-for-existence-of-adaptation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. 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