---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because he treats the world as rather…"
description: "\"Because he treats the world as rather empty and ignores the interrelatedness of all things (so stupefying to thought and action), administrative man ca..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg"
---

#  Because he treats the world as rather empty and ignores…

![“Because he treats the world as rather empty and ignores the interrelatedness of all things (so stupefying to thought and action), administrative man can make decisions with relatively simple rules of thumb that do not make impossible demands upon his capacity for thought.” quote by Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg)

> “Because he treats the world as rather empty and ignores the interrelatedness of all things (so stupefying to thought and action), administrative man can make decisions with relatively simple rules of thumb that do not make impossible demands upon his capacity for thought.”

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Administrative decision‑making relies on simplifying complex interconnections into easy heuristics, reducing cognitive load.

**In simple terms:** Simplify decisions using simple rules.

Key Takeaway

Use heuristics to manage complexity.

Themes

decision‑making heuristics cognition

Mood

pragmatic analytical

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- business strategy
- public policy
- personal planning

Key Concepts

bounded rationality systems thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance simplicity with thoroughness?
- When might a simple rule fail?

A Different Perspective

Heuristics may overlook critical nuances.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Administrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administrative/) [Administrative Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administrative-man-3109803/) [All things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-things/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Demand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demand/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Ignores Interrelatedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignores-interrelatedness-3109804/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Interrelatedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrelatedness/) [Make Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decisions/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-rules-553353/) [Thoughts and actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-actions/) [Thumbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thumbs/) [Treats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treats/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Ignores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-ignores-1742885/)

## Related quotes

> [“I dance the fine line between a world that ignores science and one that has forgotten magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-l-perin/i-dance-the-fine-line-between-a-world-that-ignores-science-and-one/)

[Teresa L. Perin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-l-perin/)

> [“I hate it when the real world ignores a perfectly logical, rational assumption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-hate-it-when-the-real-world-ignores-a-perfectly-logical-rational/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whatever-affects-one-directly-affects-all-indirectly/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-cannot-sit-idly-by-in-atlanta-and-not-be-concerned-about-what-2/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I love the interrelatedness of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-love-the-interrelatedness-of-things/)

[Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/)

> [“In the final analysis, agape means a recognition of the fact that all life is interrelated. All humanity is involved in a single process,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/in-the-final-analysis-agape-means-a-recognition-of-the-fact-that-all/)

[Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/)

> [“The light irradiates white peaks of Annapurna marching down the sky, in the great rampart that spreads east and west for eighteen hundred miles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/the-light-irradiates-white-peaks-of-annapurna-marching-down-the-sky/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/injustice-anywhere-is-a-threat-to-justice-everywhere-we-are-caught-in/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-cognizant-of-the-interrelatedness-of-all-communities-and-states/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [To the pure geometer the radius of curvature is an incidental characteristic - like the grin of the Cheshire cat. To the physicist it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/to-the-pure-geometer-the-radius-of-curvature-is-an-incidental/)

[Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/)

> [“…these mothers at their midnight council were more like one great mind probing itself, divided at times as great minds may be, but one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cunningham/these-mothers-at-their-midnight-council-were-more-like-one-great-mind/)

[Elizabeth Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cunningham/)

> [The novel is the highest example of subtle interrelatedness that man has discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-novel-is-the-highest-example-of-subtle-interrelatedness-that-man/)

[D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/)

> [“Seven simple rules of going into hiding: One, never trust a cop in a raincoat. Two, beware of enthusiasm and of love. Both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/seven-simple-rules-of-going-into-hiding-one-never-trust-a-cop-in-a/)

[Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/)

> [Five simple rules for a happy life: 1. Have faith. 2. Keep trying. 3. Keep it simple. 4. Laugh at problems. 5. Stay as youthful as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/five-simple-rules-for-a-happy-life-1-have-faith-2-keep-trying-3-keep/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are 3 simple rules in life: 1. If you dont go after what you want, youll never have it. 2. If you dont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-3-simple-rules-in-life-1-if-you-dont-go-after-what-you-want/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Herbert Simon

> [Engineering, medicine, business, architecture and painting are concerned not with the necessary but with the contingent - not with how things are but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/engineering-medicine-business-architecture-and-painting-are-concerned/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [Technology may create a condition, but the questions are what do we do about ourselves. We better understand ourselves pretty clearly and we better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/technology-may-create-a-condition-but-the-questions-are-what-do-we-do/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [The world is vast, beautiful, and fascinating, even awe-inspiring - but impersonal. It demands nothing of me, and allows me to demand nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/the-world-is-vast-beautiful-and-fascinating-even-awe-inspiring-but/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [Innovation has a lot to do with your ability to recognise surprising and unusual phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/innovation-has-a-lot-to-do-with-your-ability-to-recognise-surprising/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [All correct reasoning is a grand system of tautologies, but only God can make direct use of that fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/all-correct-reasoning-is-a-grand-system-of-tautologies-but-only-god/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [“We see that reason is wholly instrumental. It cannot tell us where to go; at best it can tell us how to get there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/we-see-that-reason-is-wholly-instrumental-it-cannot-tell-us-where-to/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [“It is not my aim to surprise or shock you—but the simplest way I can summarize is to say that there are now in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/it-is-not-my-aim-to-surprise-or-shock-you-but-the-simplest-way-i-can/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [No one has characterized market mechanisms better than Friedrich von Hayek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/no-one-has-characterized-market-mechanisms-better-than-friedrich-von/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [One of the first rules of science is if somebody delivers a secret weapon to you, you better use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/one-of-the-first-rules-of-science-is-if-somebody-delivers-a-secret/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [The engineer, and more generally the designer, is concerned with how things ought to be - how they ought to be in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/the-engineer-and-more-generally-the-designer-is-concerned-with-how/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [ “\[Stated in 1965:\] Machines will be capable, within 20 years, of doing any work a man can do.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/stated-in-1965-machines-will-be-capable-within-20-years-of-doing-any/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [“Reason, then, goes to work only after it has been supplied with a suitable set of inputs, or premises. If reason is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/reason-then-goes-to-work-only-after-it-has-been-supplied-with-a/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [The aim ... is to provide a clear and rigorous basis for determining when a causal ordering can be said to hold between two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/the-aim-is-to-provide-a-clear-and-rigorous-basis-for-determining-when/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/what-information-consumes-is-rather-obvious-it-consumes-the-attention/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

> [Most of us really aren't horribly unique. There are 6 billion of us. Put 'em all in one room and very few would stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/most-of-us-really-aren-t-horribly-unique-there-are-6-billion-of-us/)

[Herbert Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

[Explore all 43 Herbert Simon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Because he treats the world as rather empty and ignores the interrelatedness of all things (so stupefying to thought and action), administrative man can make decisions with relatively simple rules of thumb that do not make impossible demands upon his capacity for thought.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Herbert Simon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-empty-and-ignores-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-empty-and-ignores-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e35/herbert-simon-15495_action_because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-em_1943264.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Because he treats the world as rather empty and ignores the interrelatedness of all things (so stupefying to…” — Herbert Simon",
                "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": "Herbert Simon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-simon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Because he treats the world as...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-empty-and-ignores-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-simon/because-he-treats-the-world-as-rather-empty-and-ignores-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
