Admirable Quote by Nick Harkaway
“The problem isn't who is in charge. It's what is in charge. The problem is that people are encouraged to function as machines. Or, actually, as mechanisms. Human emotion and sympathy are unprofessional. They are inappropriate to the exercise of reason. Everything which makes people good - makes them human - is ruled out. The system doesn't care about people, but we treat it as if it were one of us, as if it were the sum of our goods and not the product of our least admirable compromises.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway, 2008
The quote critiques systems that prioritize efficiency over humanity, treating people as interchangeable parts and suppressing emotion and empathy.
In simple terms: Systems often value machines over human feelings.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize humane values over pure efficiency.
Themes
humanity
systems
empathy
efficiency
ethics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- workplace policies
- corporate culture
- public administration
- AI governance
Key Concepts
dehumanization
bureaucracy
mechanical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations balance efficiency with empathy?
- What safeguards prevent dehumanization?
A Different Perspective
Human emotions can be essential for ethical decision‑making, not merely “unprofessional.”
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