--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are not machines, but in all…" description: "\"People are not machines, but in all situations where they are given the opportunity, they will act like machines.\" — Ludwig von Bertalanffy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg" --- # People are not machines, but in all situations where they… ![“People are not machines, but in all situations where they are given the opportunity, they will act like machines.” quote by Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg) > “People are not machines, but in all situations where they are given the opportunity, they will act like machines.” [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People tend to behave mechanically when given opportunities that reduce autonomy. **In simple terms:** Opportunity can make people act like machines. Key Takeaway Preserve autonomy in design. Themes human behavior automation autonomy Mood analytical critical Type theoretical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace policies - education design - technology interfaces Key Concepts systems theory psychology agency Questions to Reflect On - How can we design systems that respect agency? - When does structure become oppressive? A Different Perspective May not apply to all contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot love a car the way you love a horse. The horse brings out human feelings the way machines cannot do. Things like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-cannot-love-a-car-the-way-you-love-a-horse-the-horse-brings-out/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The key relationships in the future will not be between people, but between machines and people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-keen/the-key-relationships-in-the-future-will-not-be-between-people-but/) [Andrew Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-keen/) > [People are not machines. And we have to respect that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/people-are-not-machines-and-we-have-to-respect-that/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I genuinely think in the future there'll be so many AIs and stuff that they'll start to become like real people. Machines with real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/i-genuinely-think-in-the-future-there-ll-be-so-many-ais-and-stuff/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [We're dumber and less cognitively nimble if we're not around other people - and, now, other machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/we-re-dumber-and-less-cognitively-nimble-if-we-re-not-around-other/) [Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/) > [People are machines of forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-barbusse/people-are-machines-of-forgetfulness/) [Henri Barbusse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-barbusse/) > [“So this is the development that will make a difference: a method for groups of people and machines to work together to make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-this-is-the-development-that-will-make-a-difference-a-method-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The industrial model is gone. People are more than machines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/the-industrial-model-is-gone-people-are-more-than-machines/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [People talk about "job creation," as if that had ever been the aim the industrial economy. The aim was to replace people with machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/people-talk-about-job-creation-as-if-that-had-ever-been-the-aim-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“They found these men were not human. More like machines. An intra-species predator that lived amongst its prey. Undetected, unknown and unchangeable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-m-farrugia/they-found-these-men-were-not-human-more-like-machines-an-intra/) [Nathan M. Farrugia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-m-farrugia/) > [I am more concerned about a world led by people, who think like machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-harari/i-am-more-concerned-about-a-world-led-by-people-who-think-like/) [Haim Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-harari/) > [“Unfortunately, we-especially in the United States-have become increasingly mechanized, so that today we feel very strongly that if we can take anything out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/unfortunately-we-especially-in-the-united-states-have-become/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [Machines help us do things more quickly and efficiently, but they can also destroy some community activities. Machines can also throw the weakest people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/machines-help-us-do-things-more-quickly-and-efficiently-but-they-can/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [Work in the morning, evening, work, work in office, at home, work, life has become like the machines that, I want to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/work-in-the-morning-evening-work-work-in-office-at-home-work-life-has/) Mak\_786 > [“All living things have energy. Our bodies are like machines in that it needs maintenance and care. - STRONG: Powerful Philosophy for Timeless Thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/all-living-things-have-energy-our-bodies-are-like-machines-in-that-it/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) ## More by Ludwig von Bertalanffy > [The fact that a theory so vague, so insufficiently verifiable, and so far from the criteria otherwise applied in 'hard' science has become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/the-fact-that-a-theory-so-vague-so-insufficiently-verifiable-and-so/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) > [I think that the fact that a theory so vague, so insufficiently verifiable, and so far from the criteria otherwise applied in "hard" science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/i-think-that-the-fact-that-a-theory-so-vague-so-insufficiently/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) > [Progress is only possible by passing from a state of undifferentiated wholeness to differentiation of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/progress-is-only-possible-by-passing-from-a-state-of-undifferentiated/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) > [Considering the inconceivable complexity of processes even in a simple cell, it is little short of a miracle that the simplest possible model -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/considering-the-inconceivable-complexity-of-processes-even-in-a/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) > [Thus even supposedly unadulterated facts of observation already are interfused with all sorts of conceptual pictures, model concepts, theories or whatever expression you choose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/thus-even-supposedly-unadulterated-facts-of-observation-already-are/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) > [It is the 'zoomorphic' or 'rattomorphic' fallacy - the expressed or implicit contention that there is no essential difference between rat and man -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/it-is-the-zoomorphic-or-rattomorphic-fallacy-the-expressed-or/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) > [We are seeking another basic outlook: the world as an organization. This would profoundly change categories of our thinking and influence our practical attitudes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/we-are-seeking-another-basic-outlook-the-world-as-an-organization/) [Ludwig von Bertalanffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) [Explore all 8 Ludwig von Bertalanffy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are not machines, but in all situations where they are given the opportunity, they will act like machines.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ludwig von Bertalanffy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situations-where-they-are-given/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situations-where-they-are-given/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/254/ludwig-von-bertalanffy-48191_computers_people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situa_2411026.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are not machines, but in all situations where they are given the opportunity, they will act like…” — Ludwig von Bertalanffy", "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": "Ludwig von Bertalanffy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People are not machines, but in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situations-where-they-are-given/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-bertalanffy/people-are-not-machines-but-in-all-situations-where-they-are-given/#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 } } ] } ```