--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The individual has become a mere cog in…" description: "\"The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers which tear from his hands all progress, spirituality, and value i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg" --- # The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous… ![“The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers which tear from his hands all progress, spirituality, and value in order to transform them from their subjective form into the form of a purely objective life.” quote by Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg) > “The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers which tear from his hands all progress, spirituality, and value in order to transform them from their subjective form into the form of a purely objective life.” [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) ## 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 warns that modern institutions can strip individuals of agency, turning personal growth into impersonal, objective processes. **In simple terms:** Institutions can rob personal meaning and agency. Key Takeaway Guard personal values against bureaucratic dehumanization. Themes individualism bureaucracy spirituality value agency Mood reflective critical concerned Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - workplace - government policy - personal development - community activism Key Concepts objectivity alienation social structure Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain personal meaning within large systems? - What practices protect spirituality in bureaucratic environments? A Different Perspective It may overlook the benefits of collective coordination and shared standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Subjective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjective/) ## Related quotes > [Bodybuilding is not my main objective in life. It's just something I do on the side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-piana/bodybuilding-is-not-my-main-objective-in-life-it-s-just-something-i/) [Rich Piana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-piana/) > [Ideas are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man in the desert of waters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schurz/ideas-are-like-stars-you-will-not-succeed-in-touching-them-with-your/) [Carl Schurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schurz/) > [To sum it all up, the objective of my life has been to give work a moral and economic dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brunello-cucinelli/to-sum-it-all-up-the-objective-of-my-life-has-been-to-give-work-a/) [Brunello Cucinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brunello-cucinelli/) > [The most important thing that I know about living is love. Nothing surpasses the benefits received by a human being who makes compassion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/the-most-important-thing-that-i-know-about-living-is-love-nothing/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Those who make happiness the chief objective of life are bound to fail, for happiness is a by-product rather than an end in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/those-who-make-happiness-the-chief-objective-of-life-are-bound-to/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Life's objective is life itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/life-s-objective-is-life-itself/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Our own happiness ought not to be our main objective in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/our-own-happiness-ought-not-to-be-our-main-objective-in-life/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [I've learned through my own experiences that working toward an objective in your life can change who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuichiro-miura/i-ve-learned-through-my-own-experiences-that-working-toward-an/) [Yuichiro Miura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuichiro-miura/) > [I always said, you have to have a goal and an objective in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-driskell/i-always-said-you-have-to-have-a-goal-and-an-objective-in-life/) [David C. Driskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-driskell/) > [I really loved football from a young age. And my only thought, my only objective in life, was to be a professional footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pogba/i-really-loved-football-from-a-young-age-and-my-only-thought-my-only/) [Paul Pogba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pogba/) > [People or philosophers keep saying that our fundamental objective in life is to be happy! This is wrong! Our fundamental objective in life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/people-or-philosophers-keep-saying-that-our-fundamental-objective-in/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [What is the purpose of life? What is the primary objective of life? To live. To sustain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-is-the-purpose-of-life-what-is-the-primary-objective-of-life-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [every subjective phenomenon is essentially connected with a single point of view, and it seems inevitable that an objective, physical theory will abandon that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/every-subjective-phenomenon-is-essentially-connected-with-a-single/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [the deepest subjective experiences are also the most universal, because through them one reaches the universal source of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-deepest-subjective-experiences-are-also-the-most-universal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always believed that photography was subjective, interpretive and certainly did not represent the truth, but I did think that its status as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ritchin/i-always-believed-that-photography-was-subjective-interpretive-and/) [Fred Ritchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ritchin/) ## More by Georg Simmel > [Wandering, (is) considered as a state of detachment form every given point in space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/wandering-is-considered-as-a-state-of-detachment-form-every-given/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Every superior personality, and every superior performance, has, for the average of mankind, something mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/every-superior-personality-and-every-superior-performance-has-for-the/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Cities are, first of all, seats of the highest economic division of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/cities-are-first-of-all-seats-of-the-highest-economic-division-of/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Secrecy sets barriers between men, but at the same time offers the seductive temptation to break through the barriers by gossip or confession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/secrecy-sets-barriers-between-men-but-at-the-same-time-offers-the/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Every relationship between two individuals or two groups will be characterized by the ratio of secrecy that is involved in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/every-relationship-between-two-individuals-or-two-groups-will-be/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Gratitude, as it were, is the moral memory of mankind. In this respect, it differs from faithfulness by being more practical and impulsive: although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/gratitude-as-it-were-is-the-moral-memory-of-mankind-in-this-respect/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [A stranger is far enough away that he is unknown but close enough that it is possible to get to know him. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/a-stranger-is-far-enough-away-that-he-is-unknown-but-close-enough/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [On the one hand, life is made infinitely easy for the personality in that stimulations, interests, uses of time and consciousness are offered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/on-the-one-hand-life-is-made-infinitely-easy-for-the-personality-in/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [The metropolis reveals itself as one of those great historical formations in which opposing streams which enclose life unfold, as well as join one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-metropolis-reveals-itself-as-one-of-those-great-historical/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Secrecy involves a tension which, at the moment of revelation, finds its release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/secrecy-involves-a-tension-which-at-the-moment-of-revelation-finds/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Judging from the ugly and repugnant things that are sometimes in vogue, it would seem as though fashion were desirous of exhibiting its power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/judging-from-the-ugly-and-repugnant-things-that-are-sometimes-in/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [By my existence I am nothing more than an empty place, an outline,that is reserved within being in general. Given with it, though, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/by-my-existence-i-am-nothing-more-than-an-empty-place-an-outline-that/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [The calculative exactness of practical life which the money economy has brought about corresponds to the ideal of natural science: to transform the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-calculative-exactness-of-practical-life-which-the-money-economy/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Secrecy is thus, so to speak, a transition stadium between being and not-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/secrecy-is-thus-so-to-speak-a-transition-stadium-between-being-and/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Man's nature, originally good and common to all, should develop unhampered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/man-s-nature-originally-good-and-common-to-all-should-develop/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) [Explore all 42 Georg Simmel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) ## More Enormous quotes > [The sky is an enormous man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-swedenborg/the-sky-is-an-enormous-man/) [Emanuel Swedenborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-swedenborg/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [ \[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy\] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-chosen-taxonomy-a-set-of/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [My fan mail is enormous. Everyone is under six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/my-fan-mail-is-enormous-everyone-is-under-six/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [The discrepancy between what actually happened and the version of what happened provided by sources is an enormous gray area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/the-discrepancy-between-what-actually-happened-and-the-version-of/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) > [The problem was Le Corbusier was a genius and an enormous artist, but he tried to resolve problems to which there is no solution.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-krier/the-problem-was-le-corbusier-was-a-genius-and-an-enormous-artist-but/) [Leon Krier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-krier/) > [We have the enormous opportunity in our hands to make a positive difference for business, people, and the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-have-the-enormous-opportunity-in-our-hands-to-make-a-positive/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [The USA is so enormous, and so numerous are its schools, colleges and religious seminaries, many devoted to special religious beliefs ranging from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/the-usa-is-so-enormous-and-so-numerous-are-its-schools-colleges-and/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And we have come so far like that. I mean, the advances on the medication side have been enormous, and the advances on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/and-we-have-come-so-far-like-that-i-mean-the-advances-on-the/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [The full implications of feminism will evolve over time, as we organize, experiment, think, analyze, and revise our ideas and strategies in light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bunch/the-full-implications-of-feminism-will-evolve-over-time-as-we/) [Charlotte Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bunch/) > [But individuals and firms spend an enormous amount of resources acquiring information, which affects their beliefs; and actions of others too affect their beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/but-individuals-and-firms-spend-an-enormous-amount-of-resources/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [We've established the most enormous medical entity ever conceived... and people are sicker than ever. We cure nothing! We heal nothing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/we-ve-established-the-most-enormous-medical-entity-ever-conceived-and/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) Browse all 1,952 Enormous quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers which tear from his hands all progress, spirituality, and value in order to transform them from their subjective form into the form of a purely objective life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Georg Simmel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in-an-enormous-organization-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enormous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in-an-enormous-organization-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/georg-simmel-15330_enormous_the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in_2093039.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The individual has become a mere cog in an enormous organization of things and powers which tear from his…” — Georg Simmel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Georg Simmel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The individual has become a mere...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in-an-enormous-organization-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-individual-has-become-a-mere-cog-in-an-enormous-organization-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```