--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As products of our highly competitive and…" description: "\"As products of our highly competitive and specialized society, with all its ladders and ceilings, neat compartments, titles, and categories, to remain ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg" --- # As products of our highly competitive and specialized… ![“As products of our highly competitive and specialized society, with all its ladders and ceilings, neat compartments, titles, and categories, to remain in an expanded state can feel like swimming upstream.” quote by Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg) > “As products of our highly competitive and specialized society, with all its ladders and ceilings, neat compartments, titles, and categories, to remain in an expanded state can feel like swimming upstream.” [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living in a highly competitive, compartmentalized society feels like swimming against the current, making personal growth challenging. **In simple terms:** Society's pressures can feel like swimming upstream. Key Takeaway Find personal flow despite external pressures. Themes psychology social dynamics well‑being Mood empathetic motivational Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal development coaching - stress management workshops - creative pursuits - community building Key Concepts competition specialization social ladders Questions to Reflect On - How can you create your own path within a rigid system? - What practices help you stay buoyant under pressure? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic factors that limit individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Swimming upstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swimming-upstream/) ## Related quotes > [All the fantasies of Trump-Bannon nationalism require a vastly expanded state, with greater powers over the economy and society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/all-the-fantasies-of-trump-bannon-nationalism-require-a-vastly/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [Of the present state, whatever it be, we feel and are forced to confess the misery; yet when the same state is again at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/of-the-present-state-whatever-it-be-we-feel-and-are-forced-to-confess/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“You are in a sorry state if you feel sorry for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/you-are-in-a-sorry-state-if-you-feel-sorry-for-yourself/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [I'm never nervous when I go to meet heads of state. I feel they should be nervous, because they are the ones who'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bono/i-m-never-nervous-when-i-go-to-meet-heads-of-state-i-feel-they-should/) [Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bono/) > [This is called synchronicity - a state in which you almost feel as if you are in a collaborative arrangement with fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/this-is-called-synchronicity-a-state-in-which-you-almost-feel-as-if/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [I care about this state... and I feel a responsibility to get things done. If we stay healthy and play smart we can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mariucci/i-care-about-this-state-and-i-feel-a-responsibility-to-get-things/) [Steve Mariucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mariucci/) > [ What you want to see \[in Formula One\] is a highly competitive sport - and the more equal it is the more exciting it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/what-you-want-to-see-in-formula-one-is-a-highly-competitive-sport-and/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [I'm so highly competitive: I just want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/i-m-so-highly-competitive-i-just-want-to-win/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [The notion of having work-life harmony in a highly competitive economy is a first-class topic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/the-notion-of-having-work-life-harmony-in-a-highly-competitive/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [People who tend not to report illness are people who are highly competitive and do not want to admit they are not coping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-cooper/people-who-tend-not-to-report-illness-are-people-who-are-highly/) Cary Cooper > [It's highly competitive to be here. 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It is useless, merely a hypocritical humbug, to sincerely wish your opponent to win. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-cerutty/i-have-found-life-highly-competitive-i-accept-it-it-is-useless-merely/) [Percy Cerutty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-cerutty/) > [I can be highly competitive, which is ultimately why I chose yoga as a career. I thought it would drain the competitive drive out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/i-can-be-highly-competitive-which-is-ultimately-why-i-chose-yoga-as-a/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) ## More by Judith Hanson Lasater > [“... the only thing I was to do while living was to love everyone. That, she let me know, is the purpose of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/the-only-thing-i-was-to-do-while-living-was-to-love-everyone-that-she/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“Am I suggesting that we no longer try to achieve our goals? Absolutely not. It is not accomplishment that is the problem. The problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/am-i-suggesting-that-we-no-longer-try-to-achieve-our-goals-absolutely/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [Follow your nature. The practice is really about uncovering your own pose; we have great respect for our teachers, but unless we can uncover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/follow-your-nature-the-practice-is-really-about-uncovering-your-own/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“... I consciously closed down my energy. He instantly left me alone. I learned a powerful lesson that day. When you open up your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/i-consciously-closed-down-my-energy-he-instantly-left-me-alone-i/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [Keep your drunken electrons dancing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/keep-your-drunken-electrons-dancing/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [We are being called into realization with great urgency and extraordinary beauty, and oftentimes not without difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/we-are-being-called-into-realization-with-great-urgency-and/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“I came to understand that belief is a preconception about the way reality should be; faith is the willingness to experience reality as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/i-came-to-understand-that-belief-is-a-preconception-about-the-way/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“Don't believe your thoughts; they are just neurotransmitters locking into receptor sites, not reality. ... 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/you-can-t-make-yourself-be-compassionate-you-can-only-keep-stepping/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“Now, well beyond my teens, I feel that there is no such thing as wasted love. Any love that we experience holds great power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/now-well-beyond-my-teens-i-feel-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-wasted/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“I suggest that, before speaking or taking some other action, you first ask yourself these questions: Is it necessary? Is it true? Is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/i-suggest-that-before-speaking-or-taking-some-other-action-you-first/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [“If you expect more from yourself than from others, you are saying that you are better than others and, therefore, must perform at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/if-you-expect-more-from-yourself-than-from-others-you-are-saying-that/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [The time to recognize the power of community is here again. Not as some romanticized renaissance from times past, but as a necessarily new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/the-time-to-recognize-the-power-of-community-is-here-again-not-as/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [Why are we doing all these handstands, backbends and arm balances? I don't know why we're doing them unless our lives are shaped and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/why-are-we-doing-all-these-handstands-backbends-and-arm-balances-i/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) [Explore all 55 Judith Hanson Lasater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) ## More Categories quotes > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-ve-worked-with-jazz-artists-country-artists-classical-artists-pop/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) Martin A. Siegel > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [... the notions category and functor were not formulated or put in print until the idea of a natural transformation was also at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saunders-mac-lane/the-notions-category-and-functor-were-not-formulated-or-put-in-print/) Saunders Mac Lane > [Last guy I was interested in turned out to be an incestuous necrophiliac," she said. "So no, not currently dating, and definitely not doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/last-guy-i-was-interested-in-turned-out-to-be-an-incestuous/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Culture exists and evolves to relegate to habit categories of interactions the constant conscious reference to which would make human interaction impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/culture-exists-and-evolves-to-relegate-to-habit-categories-of/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) Browse all 927 Categories quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As products of our highly competitive and specialized society, with all its ladders and ceilings, neat compartments, titles, and categories, to remain in an expanded state can feel like swimming upstream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Hanson Lasater" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-and-specialized-society-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Categories" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-and-specialized-society-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/judith-hanson-lasater-12396_categories_as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-an_1090313.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As products of our highly competitive and specialized society, with all its ladders and ceilings, neat…” — Judith Hanson Lasater", "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": "Judith Hanson Lasater", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As products of our highly competitive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-and-specialized-society-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/as-products-of-our-highly-competitive-and-specialized-society-with/#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 } } ] } ```