--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the sense that people who produce…" description: "\"In the sense that people who produce things and work get rewarded, statistically. You don't get rewarded precisely for your effort, but in Russia you g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/esther-dyson-8125_alive_in-the-sense-that-people-who-produce-thi_1474081.jpg" --- # In the sense that people who produce things and work get… ![“In the sense that people who produce things and work get rewarded, statistically. You don't get rewarded precisely for your effort, but in Russia you got rewarded for being alive, but not very well rewarded.” quote by Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/esther-dyson-8125_alive_in-the-sense-that-people-who-produce-thi_1474081.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/esther-dyson-8125_alive_in-the-sense-that-people-who-produce-thi_1474081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/esther-dyson-8125_alive_in-the-sense-that-people-who-produce-thi_1474081.jpg) > “In the sense that people who produce things and work get rewarded, statistically. You don't get rewarded precisely for your effort, but in Russia you got rewarded for being alive, but not very well rewarded.” [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reward systems often favor existence over effort, especially in restrictive economies, highlighting inefficiencies in meritocracy. **In simple terms:** Rewards favor being alive over working hard, especially in some countries. Key Takeaway Advocate for fair, effort‑based compensation. Themes economics fairness meritocracy policy inequality Mood thoughtful critical optimistic Type analytical policy‑oriented When to use this quote - salary negotiations - policy reform - employee evaluation - social entrepreneurship Key Concepts incentive design social welfare labor economics political economy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better align rewards with contribution? - What policies ensure equitable compensation? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex socioeconomic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) ## Related quotes > [I do believe that at Microsoft in general good work is rewarded, and I have seen it many times here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-do-believe-that-at-microsoft-in-general-good-work-is-rewarded-and-i/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [Stephen's belief was that if you were free to do your absolute best work, you would be rewarded. My belief was that if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hawking/stephen-s-belief-was-that-if-you-were-free-to-do-your-absolute-best/) [Jane Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hawking/) > [Hard work should be rewarded by good food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/hard-work-should-be-rewarded-by-good-food/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [Goodness and hard work are rewarded with respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-campbell/goodness-and-hard-work-are-rewarded-with-respect/) [Luther Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-campbell/) > [If you do the work you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-do-the-work-you-get-rewarded-there-are-no-shortcuts-in-life/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [We live in the kind of society where, in almost all cases, hard work is rewarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-live-in-the-kind-of-society-where-in-almost-all-cases-hard-work-is/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“economics was largely a form of intellectual prostitution where you got rewarded for saying what the powers that be wanted to hear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tegmark/economics-was-largely-a-form-of-intellectual-prostitution-where-you/) [Max Tegmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tegmark/) > [The thing that ruined your life makes you good at your work. And then you get rewarded at work, so you don't bother to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/the-thing-that-ruined-your-life-makes-you-good-at-your-work-and-then/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [And above all, above all, honest work must be rewarded by a fair and just tax system. The tax system today does not reward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/and-above-all-above-all-honest-work-must-be-rewarded-by-a-fair-and/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [I think the most important is to remain as stable and consistent as possible in terms of emotions, because when you're working, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/i-think-the-most-important-is-to-remain-as-stable-and-consistent-as/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [John Kerry believes in an America where hard work is rewarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/john-kerry-believes-in-an-america-where-hard-work-is-rewarded/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The things that get rewarded, get done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leboeuf/the-things-that-get-rewarded-get-done/) [Michael LeBoeuf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leboeuf/) > [It's not like basketball, football or rugby, where they judge you on potential. In this sport it's about 'what have you done lately' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/it-s-not-like-basketball-football-or-rugby-where-they-judge-you-on/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [I'm an idealist. You do things your way well enough, for long enough, you'll get rewarded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-m-an-idealist-you-do-things-your-way-well-enough-for-long-enough/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [When fans know they are being rewarded, they are more engaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/when-fans-know-they-are-being-rewarded-they-are-more-engaged/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) ## More by Esther Dyson > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Owning the intellectual property is like owning land: You need to keep investing in it again and again to get a payoff; you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/owning-the-intellectual-property-is-like-owning-land-you-need-to-keep/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Don't leave hold of your common sense. Think about what you're doing and how the technology can enhance it. Don't think about technology first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/don-t-leave-hold-of-your-common-sense-think-about-what-you-re-doing/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [People need to understand that the technology is for them. It's not to them. It's not over them. People still sometimes want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-need-to-understand-that-the-technology-is-for-them-it-s-not-to/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The challenge of ensuring adequate, nutrient-rich food for an expanding global population is a daunting one, especially given constraints on key resources like water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-challenge-of-ensuring-adequate-nutrient-rich-food-for-an/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/what-i-m-thinking-about-more-and-more-these-days-is-simply-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Anyone will tell you if you want to run a business, you need to monitor costs and revenues. In the same manner, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/anyone-will-tell-you-if-you-want-to-run-a-business-you-need-to/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [It may not always be profitable at first for businesses to be online, but it is certainly going to be unprofitable not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/it-may-not-always-be-profitable-at-first-for-businesses-to-be-online/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [There's almost no way of doing importing honestly, because if you do you're at such a disadvantage competitively. So people spend huge amounts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/there-s-almost-no-way-of-doing-importing-honestly-because-if-you-do/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The definition of the problem, rather than its solution, will be the scarce resource in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-definition-of-the-problem-rather-than-its-solution-will-be-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Few influential people involved with the Internet claim that it is a good in and of itself. It is a powerful tool for solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/few-influential-people-involved-with-the-internet-claim-that-it-is-a/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The great thing is, Internet allows you to create your own job, not just look for jobs other people are going to give you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-great-thing-is-internet-allows-you-to-create-your-own-job-not/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [“Listen more than you talk. Whatever the context, people will think you’re smarter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/listen-more-than-you-talk-whatever-the-context-people-will-think-you/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [I am not in favor of immortality. I believe death for humans is the way of getting rid of accumulated errors - as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/i-am-not-in-favor-of-immortality-i-believe-death-for-humans-is-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted to be this intellectual property country, where we would have things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/we-had-made-a-sort-of-a-national-decision-that-we-wanted-to-be-this/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) [Explore all 84 Esther Dyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the sense that people who produce things and work get rewarded, statistically. 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