--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suppose that humans happen to be so…" description: "\"Suppose that humans happen to be so constructed that they desire the opportunity for freely undertaken productive work. Suppose that they want to be fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/noam-chomsky-42_bankers_suppose-that-humans-happen-to-be-so-cons_917955.jpg" --- # Suppose that humans happen to be so constructed that they… ![“Suppose that humans happen to be so constructed that they desire the opportunity for freely undertaken productive work. Suppose that they want to be free from the meddling of technocrats and commissars, bankers and tycoons, mad bombers who engage in psychological tests of will with peasants…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/noam-chomsky-42_bankers_suppose-that-humans-happen-to-be-so-cons_917955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/noam-chomsky-42_bankers_suppose-that-humans-happen-to-be-so-cons_917955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84f/noam-chomsky-42_bankers_suppose-that-humans-happen-to-be-so-cons_917955.jpg) > “Suppose that humans happen to be so constructed that they desire the opportunity for freely undertaken productive work. Suppose that they want to be free from the meddling of technocrats and commissars, bankers and tycoons, mad bombers who engage in psychological tests of will with peasants defending their homes, behavioral scientists who can't tell a pigeon from a poet, or anyone else who tries to wish freedom and dignity out of existence or beat them into oblivion.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans crave autonomous, meaningful work free from oppressive control by powerful elites. **In simple terms:** People want free, productive work without coercion. Key Takeaway Protect autonomy in work. Themes freedom autonomy power labor resistance Mood defiant critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - workplace design - policy making - community organizing - education reform Key Concepts political economy psychology social control Questions to Reflect On - Who controls the conditions of your work? - How can you safeguard personal agency? A Different Perspective Power structures often co-opt freedom rhetoric, limiting true autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bankers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankers/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Bombers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombers/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-opportunity-1398540/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-dignity-344270/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Meddling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meddling/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Freely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-freely-1398539/) [Peasants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peasants/) [Pigeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigeons/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Productive work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive-work/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Tycoons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tycoons/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wish Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish-freedom-1370713/) ## Related quotes > [“Institutional structures are legitimate insofar as they enhance the opportunity to freely inquire and create, out of inner need; otherwise, they are not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/institutional-structures-are-legitimate-insofar-as-they-enhance-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It is my really sincere desire that we get an opportunity to play long enough for people to really grab on and become fans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-glass/it-is-my-really-sincere-desire-that-we-get-an-opportunity-to-play/) [Ron Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-glass/) > [Those who take refuge behind theological barbed wire fences, quite often wish they could have more freedom of thought, but fear the change to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/those-who-take-refuge-behind-theological-barbed-wire-fences-quite/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [“It has been said in this courtroom that only a human being can be free. It seems to me that only someone who wishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-has-been-said-in-this-courtroom-that-only-a-human-being-can-be/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It's very much related to the American tycoon. To William Randolph Hearst, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, that whole stratum of American acquisitive evil. Monopolistic, acquisitive evil.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/it-s-very-much-related-to-the-american-tycoon-to-william-randolph/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [It would be a serious mistake to replace a seasoned statesman with a tempermental tycoon who has no respect for the constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/it-would-be-a-serious-mistake-to-replace-a-seasoned-statesman-with-a/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [The one thing all famous authors, world class athletes, business tycoons, singers, actors, and celebrated achievers in any field have in common is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dooley/the-one-thing-all-famous-authors-world-class-athletes-business-2/) [Mike Dooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dooley/) > [It's actually a character choice for a movie I've been filming in South Korea called Okja. My director had this idea of having my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/it-s-actually-a-character-choice-for-a-movie-i-ve-been-filming-in/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [Moving to Montana soon, gonna be a dental floss tycoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/moving-to-montana-soon-gonna-be-a-dental-floss-tycoon/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [Outcasts may grow up to be novelists and filmmakers and computer tycoons, but they will never be the athletic ruling class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/outcasts-may-grow-up-to-be-novelists-and-filmmakers-and-computer/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [American Education has a long history of infatuation with fads and ill-considered ideas. The current obsession with making our schools work like a business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ravitch/american-education-has-a-long-history-of-infatuation-with-fads-and/) [Diane Ravitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ravitch/) > [I just have this thing inside me that wants to eat and conquer. Maybe it's egotistical, but I have it in me. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-just-have-this-thing-inside-me-that-wants-to-eat-and-conquer-maybe/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Paying attention to simple little things that most men neglect makes a few men rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/paying-attention-to-simple-little-things-that-most-men-neglect-makes/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [ I at least felt the obligation to speak clearly \[in 'The Last Tycoon'\]. This is pre-Brando and pre-James Dean. Nobody mumbled back then. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/i-at-least-felt-the-obligation-to-speak-clearly-in-the-last-tycoon/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [It's an absurd world - you know, billionaires in Birkenstocks. But I'd rather have nerdy tech guys as the next Carnegie than oil tycoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/it-s-an-absurd-world-you-know-billionaires-in-birkenstocks-but-i-d/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Bankers quotes > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [What Wall Street and credit card companies are doing is really not much different from what gangsters and loan sharks do who make predatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-wall-street-and-credit-card-companies-are-doing-is-really-not/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [“After analyzing our current crisis and studying well-established historical precedents, I must conclude that the global bankers have only three possible cards left to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/after-analyzing-our-current-crisis-and-studying-well-established/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [ What I think is bugging this guy \[Steven Lerner\] is the belief that debt - forced debt upon middle-class people, students (i.e., student loans… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-i-think-is-bugging-this-guy-steven-lerner-is-the-belief-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If you owe your bank manager a thousand pounds, you are at his mercy. If you owe him a million pounds, he is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/if-you-owe-your-bank-manager-a-thousand-pounds-you-are-at-his-mercy/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [It's a topsy-turvy world in which a country can import the same amount of ice-cream, toilet paper and other goods to trading partners as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-simms/it-s-a-topsy-turvy-world-in-which-a-country-can-import-the-same/) [Andrew Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-simms/) > [Why is it possible to rescue S&L buccaneers in the early '90s and provide guidance to levered Wall Street investment bankers during the 1998…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gross/why-is-it-possible-to-rescue-s-l-buccaneers-in-the-early-90s-and/) [Bill Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gross/) > [There is too much sour grapes for my taste in the present American attitude. The time to denounce the bankers was when we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/there-is-too-much-sour-grapes-for-my-taste-in-the-present-american/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Argentina is a marvelous place. Argentines are great bankers of information. They import information; if someone sneezes in Milan or in New York, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-ambasz/argentina-is-a-marvelous-place-argentines-are-great-bankers-of/) [Emilio Ambasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-ambasz/) > [Now it's of peculiar interest to an Arab country that there is a company and a certain set of bankers who also finance the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/now-it-s-of-peculiar-interest-to-an-arab-country-that-there-is-a/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [The bankers just got a good cussing by everybody for loaning too much money. Well, they got some awful nice buildings. So when a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-bankers-just-got-a-good-cussing-by-everybody-for-loaning-too-much/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) [Browse all 464 Bankers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bankers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Suppose that humans happen to be so constructed that they desire the opportunity for freely undertaken productive work. 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