Computers Quote by Pyotr Kropotkin
““What interest, in fact, can this depressing work have for the worker, when he knows that the fate awaiting him from the cradle to the grave will be to live in mediocrity, poverty, and insecurity of the morrow? Therefore, when we see the immense majority of men take up their wretched task every morning, we feel surprised at their perseverance, at their zeal for work, at the habit that enables them, like machines blindly obeying an impetus given, to lead this life of misery without hope for the morrow; without foreseeing ever so vaguely that some day they, or at least their children, will be part of a humanity rich in all the treasures of a bountiful nature, in all the enjoyments of knowledge, scientific and artistic creation, reserved to-day to a few privileged favourites.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution, 1902
The quote critiques how workers endure bleak, insecure lives, yet persist due to habit and lack of hope, while a few enjoy abundant knowledge and culture.
In simple terms: Workers endure hardship out of habit, while few enjoy abundance.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge systemic inequality.
Themes
inequality
labor
hope
habit
social structure
Mood
somber
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- Everyday work
- education reform
- policy advocacy
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Marxism
existentialism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What structures keep workers in poverty?
- How can hope be cultivated in oppressive systems?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize workers' motivations and ignore agency.
