--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought that, given the system of…" description: "\"I thought that, given the system of rewards central to our economic system, in which profit maximization is valued above all else and specifically abov..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/derrick-jensen-2824_bounds_i-thought-that-given-the-system-of-rewar_660484.jpg" --- # I thought that, given the system of rewards central to our… ![“I thought that, given the system of rewards central to our economic system, in which profit maximization is valued above all else and specifically above life, it is probably just as irresistible to the owners of capital (human or otherwise) to exploit workers (and the land): "Nothing personal,"…” quote by Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/derrick-jensen-2824_bounds_i-thought-that-given-the-system-of-rewar_660484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/derrick-jensen-2824_bounds_i-thought-that-given-the-system-of-rewar_660484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc5/derrick-jensen-2824_bounds_i-thought-that-given-the-system-of-rewar_660484.jpg) > “I thought that, given the system of rewards central to our economic system, in which profit maximization is valued above all else and specifically above life, it is probably just as irresistible to the owners of capital (human or otherwise) to exploit workers (and the land): "Nothing personal," they say as they load their property onto the ship bound for the Middle Passage, "but a man's gotta turn a dime."” [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques how profit‑driven capitalism treats humans and nature as expendable, justifying exploitation as impersonal business. **In simple terms:** Capitalism values profit over life, making exploitation seem normal. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge profit‑first mindsets. Themes capitalism exploitation ethics environment human rights Mood critical somber reflective Type political philosophical activist When to use this quote - labor negotiations - environmental activism - policy reform - corporate accountability - consumer choices Key Concepts moral philosophy economic critique social justice Questions to Reflect On - How does profit motive shape your daily choices? - What alternatives could replace exploitative practices? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook individual agency and alternative economic models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Economic system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-system/) [Economic systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-systems/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Middle passage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-passage/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profit maximization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-maximization/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [The obsession with economic profit and technical efficiency puts the human rhythms of life at risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-obsession-with-economic-profit-and-technical-efficiency-puts-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Under perfect competition, in the long run no company makes an economic profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/under-perfect-competition-in-the-long-run-no-company-makes-an/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [We live in a time when complex ethical questions are easily subordinated to the demands of efficiency, profit maximization, and maintenance or furthering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randal-marlin/we-live-in-a-time-when-complex-ethical-questions-are-easily/) [Randal Marlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randal-marlin/) > [My primary early interest was in marketing and my aim was to improve its theories, methods and tools. Early on I pressed companies to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/my-primary-early-interest-was-in-marketing-and-my-aim-was-to-improve/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [“Profit maximization may be the ‘end’ but the means to achieve this end, is what matters, and that distinguishes a company in the corporate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrietta-newton-martin-author-industrial-relations-today-2/profit-maximization-may-be-the-end-but-the-means-to-achieve-this-end/) Henrietta Newton Martin Author Industrial Relations Today > [Profit maximization is the murderous strategy of global corporation hierarchies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/profit-maximization-is-the-murderous-strategy-of-global-corporation/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [The essence of capitalism is expressed in two of its basic features: a) profit maximization and b) market competition. In their abstract formulations none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/the-essence-of-capitalism-is-expressed-in-two-of-its-basic-features-a/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [The concept of profit maximization is, in fact, meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-concept-of-profit-maximization-is-in-fact-meaningless/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The perception of potential threats to survival may be much more important in determining behavior than the perceptions of potential profits, so that profit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-perception-of-potential-threats-to-survival-may-be-much-more/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [“The ‘Regal Seven (key) Ingredients of a Successful Company’ is: Pursue the goal of Profit Maximization keeping in mind the shareholders interests. 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It is a social discipline, and society has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-rodrik/if-economics-were-only-about-profit-maximization-it-would-be-just/) [Dani Rodrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-rodrik/) > [“African American racial consciousness responds to the horrors of the Middle Passage and New World slavery as well as to the unfulfilled promise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dain/african-american-racial-consciousness-responds-to-the-horrors-of-the/) Bruce Dain > [One of the most powerful shocks of the Middle Passage is the collapse of our tacit contract with the universe-the assumption that if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hollis/one-of-the-most-powerful-shocks-of-the-middle-passage-is-the-collapse/) [James Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hollis/) > [You can say I had a severe case of 'Roots' envy. I wanted to be like Alex Haley, and I wanted to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/you-can-say-i-had-a-severe-case-of-roots-envy-i-wanted-to-be-like/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [The first Black Migration to this country was forced migration. It was the Middle Passage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/the-first-black-migration-to-this-country-was-forced-migration-it-was/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) ## More by Derrick Jensen > [The global industrial economy is the engine for massive environmental degradation and massive human (and nonhuman) impoverishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/the-global-industrial-economy-is-the-engine-for-massive-environmental/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“In sum, one of the primary things I learned was how to kill time. I learned also to wish away my life. I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/in-sum-one-of-the-primary-things-i-learned-was-how-to-kill-time-i/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“I had broken the most basic commandment of our culture: Thou shalt pretend there is nothing wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/i-had-broken-the-most-basic-commandment-of-our-culture-thou-shalt/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“Someone asked me once at a talk why I so stress the positive with my students yet am such an unstinting critic of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/someone-asked-me-once-at-a-talk-why-i-so-stress-the-positive-with-my/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [If the world is presented as resources to be exploited, then, more than likely, you're going to exploit the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/if-the-world-is-presented-as-resources-to-be-exploited-then-more-than/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [It's no wonder we don't defend the land where we live. 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Where will you choose to make your stand? Give me a threshold, a specific point at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/where-will-you-drive-your-own-picket-stake-where-will-you-choose-to/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“So often, environmentalists and others working to slow the destruction are capable of plainly describing the problems (Who wouldn’t be? The problems are neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/so-often-environmentalists-and-others-working-to-slow-the-destruction/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [Forests precede us and deserts dog our heels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/forests-precede-us-and-deserts-dog-our-heels/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“The condition of alienation, of being asleep, of being unconscious, of being out of one’s mind, is the condition of the normal man. 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