--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe the projects were a social…" description: "\"I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/mos-def-3481_believe_i-believe-the-projects-were-a-social-exp_2429207.png" --- # I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were… ![“I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was something wrong. There's not a lot of regard for the property by the residents.” quote by Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/mos-def-3481_believe_i-believe-the-projects-were-a-social-exp_2429207.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/mos-def-3481_believe_i-believe-the-projects-were-a-social-exp_2429207.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/293/mos-def-3481_believe_i-believe-the-projects-were-a-social-exp_2429207.png) > “I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was something wrong. There's not a lot of regard for the property by the residents.” [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a social experiment where participants felt trapped, highlighting neglect of residents' property rights. **In simple terms:** People felt like lab rats in a flawed experiment. Key Takeaway Recognize and address systemic neglect. Themes social justice neglect experimentation Mood critical concerned Type political social When to use this quote - urban housing - public policy - community activism Key Concepts systemic failure community rights Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do authorities have to residents? - How can communities protect their property rights? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted systems is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiment/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Laboratory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laboratory/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Projects Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects-social-259313/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Property Residents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property-residents-259314/) [Rats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rats/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Residents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/residents/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-experiment-259312/) ## Related quotes > [The military is no place for the left's latest social experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/the-military-is-no-place-for-the-left-s-latest-social-experiment/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [Hillary Clinton must have been as aware as anyone that by entering the presidential race she was kicking off a long-awaited social experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/hillary-clinton-must-have-been-as-aware-as-anyone-that-by-entering/) [Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/) > [ “I came from Paris in the Spring of 1884, and was brought in intimate contact with him \[Thomas Edison\]. 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But I just go out into the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-steele/i-just-like-being-a-social-experiment-sometimes-i-really-should-not/) [Peter Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-steele/) > [I remember sitting on the back of the bus on the first day of the Social Experiment tour with my face in my hands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/i-remember-sitting-on-the-back-of-the-bus-on-the-first-day-of-the/) [Chance The Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [God took his chosen people and we are what's left. He looked at what's left and thought: I could kill you all, but let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/god-took-his-chosen-people-and-we-are-what-s-left-he-looked-at-what-s/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [The ends justify the means mindset has been the impetus behind many a cruel medical or social experiment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/the-ends-justify-the-means-mindset-has-been-the-impetus-behind-many-a/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [It's about story; it is a social experiment, and people take that into account when they're watching 'Big Brother.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-tassler/it-s-about-story-it-is-a-social-experiment-and-people-take-that-into/) [Nina Tassler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-tassler/) > [Whatever the price of the Chinese Revolution, it has obviously succeeded not only in producing more efficient and dedicated administration, but also in fostering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/whatever-the-price-of-the-chinese-revolution-it-has-obviously/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) ## More by Mos Def > [I have mad brims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-have-mad-brims/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [And from the moment that I saw you, I knew you was trouble, But I disregarded detour signs, And did not stop til you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/and-from-the-moment-that-i-saw-you-i-knew-you-was-trouble-but-i/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/but-even-creeps-deserve-to-live-someplace-halfway-decent/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/if-you-re-going-to-do-chuck-berry-you-got-to-you-know-go-all-out-and/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/the-ability-to-have-somebody-read-something-and-see-it-or-for/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-growing-as-an-individual-but-your-always-growing-all-of-my-albums/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-don-t-want-to-waste-anyone-s-time-or-money-i-want-to-give-people/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [Man, I smashed her like an Idaho Potato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/man-i-smashed-her-like-an-idaho-potato/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I'm blacked than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-blacked-than-midnight-on-broadway-and-myrtle/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I'm not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that's a buzz kill. There's got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-not-shy-about-heated-debate-or-passionate-discourse-but-when/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-was-taught-when-there-s-somethin-you-can-change-around-keep-quiet/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I don't hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and they're helpless with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-don-t-hate-nobody-i-hate-certain-conditions-that-are-inflicted-upon/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [It’s one thing to be the greatest; it’s another thing to be necessary. The best are the most necessary: those who take less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/it-s-one-thing-to-be-the-greatest-it-s-another-thing-to-be-necessary/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [We can be beautiful and feel beautiful about who we are everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/we-can-be-beautiful-and-feel-beautiful-about-who-we-are-everyday/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [Fame is like getting across the street. It's like, if there's nothing to be across the street for, it's a pointless destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/fame-is-like-getting-across-the-street-it-s-like-if-there-s-nothing/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) [Explore all 129 Mos Def quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [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 don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was something wrong. 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