--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If machines replace achievement, then to…" description: "\"“If machines replace achievement, then to what will people aspire? And who are we, truly, without such goals? Beware the engineers of society, I say, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/r-a-salvatore-4145_achievement_if-machines-replace-achievement-then-to_2540669.jpg" --- # If machines replace achievement, then to what will people… ![“If machines replace achievement, then to what will people aspire? And who are we, truly, without such goals? Beware the engineers of society, I say, who would make everyone in all the world equal. Opportunity should be equal, must be equal, but achievement must remain individual. —Drizzt Do’Urden” quote by R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/r-a-salvatore-4145_achievement_if-machines-replace-achievement-then-to_2540669.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/r-a-salvatore-4145_achievement_if-machines-replace-achievement-then-to_2540669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/r-a-salvatore-4145_achievement_if-machines-replace-achievement-then-to_2540669.jpg) > ““If machines replace achievement, then to what will people aspire? And who are we, truly, without such goals? Beware the engineers of society, I say, who would make everyone in all the world equal. Opportunity should be equal, must be equal, but achievement must remain individual. —Drizzt Do’Urden”” [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If automation handles all success, humanity must find new purposes beyond competition, preserving individual achievement while ensuring equal opportunity. **In simple terms:** Automation may erase competition; we need personal goals. Key Takeaway Cultivate unique aspirations beyond machines. Themes individualism technology equality purpose Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - education reform - creative pursuits - community building Key Concepts human motivation social engineering meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - What personal goals can you set beyond external achievements? - How can society balance equal opportunity with individual distinction? A Different Perspective Automation can also create new forms of inequality if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Equal opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-opportunity/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Beware the engineers of society, I say, who would make everyone in all the world equal. Opportunity should be equal, must be equal, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/beware-the-engineers-of-society-i-say-who-would-make-everyone-in-all-2/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [There is one other error in the Gondsman's line of resoning, I believe, on ap urely emotional level. If machines replace achievement, then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-one-other-error-in-the-gondsman-s-line-of-resoning-i-believe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Beware the engineers of society, I say, who would make everyone in all the world equal. Opportunitty should be equal, must be equal, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beware-the-engineers-of-society-i-say-who-would-make-everyone-in-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is what America is about when it comes to understanding that it is equal opportunity versus equal achievement. Each and every one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/this-is-what-america-is-about-when-it-comes-to-understanding-that-it/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/america-guarantees-equal-opportunity-not-equal-outcome/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [What is the American dream? The American dream is one big tent. One big tent. And on that big tent you have four basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-is-the-american-dream-the-american-dream-is-one-big-tent-one-big/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The essence of our effort to see that every child has a chance must be to assure each an equal opportunity, not to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fischer/the-essence-of-our-effort-to-see-that-every-child-has-a-chance-must/) John Fischer > [Equality of opportunity is an equal opportunity to prove unequal talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-samuel-3rd-viscount-samuel/equality-of-opportunity-is-an-equal-opportunity-to-prove-unequal/) David Samuel, 3rd Viscount Samuel > [Most talk by whites about equal opportunity seems to me now to be about equal opportunity to try to get into a position of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-mcintosh/most-talk-by-whites-about-equal-opportunity-seems-to-me-now-to-be/) [Peggy McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-mcintosh/) > [We were a land of opportunity. You can never have equal outcomes, but you can have equal opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/we-were-a-land-of-opportunity-you-can-never-have-equal-outcomes-but/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [If your only opportunity is to be equal then it is not opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/if-your-only-opportunity-is-to-be-equal-then-it-is-not-opportunity/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Racial equality isn't a bonus or privilege, it is a fundamental right - as is equal opportunity. 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It must be an achievement by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-c-james-yen/true-independence-is-not-a-gift-to-be-received-it-can-t-be-a-hand-out/) [Y. C. James Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-c-james-yen/) ## More by R.A. Salvatore > [“The halfling was still standing, trying to straighten his dishevelled hat and fix the broken orange feather. "You know," he said nonchalantly, "sometimes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/the-halfling-was-still-standing-trying-to-straighten-his-dishevelled/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Where, I wonder and I fear, does hubris end and reality overwhelm? Is this the danger of reaching too high, or am I bounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/where-i-wonder-and-i-fear-does-hubris-end-and-reality-overwhelm-is/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Catti-brie didn't blink, barely drew breath. She was thinking how noble this drow had been. So many other men would not have asked questions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/catti-brie-didn-t-blink-barely-drew-breath-she-was-thinking-how-noble/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Loss of empathy might well be the most enduring and deep cutting scar of all, the silent blade of an unseen enemy, cutting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/loss-of-empathy-might-well-be-the-most-enduring-and-deep-cutting-scar/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Catti-brie continued to stare at the drow as the wizards walked up. The woman did not know what to make of Drizzt's cryptic answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/catti-brie-continued-to-stare-at-the-drow-as-the-wizards-walked-up/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“the true warrior understands that while one is learning how to use a sword,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/the-true-warrior-understands-that-while-one-is-learning-how-to-use-a/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Drizzt looked long and hard at the young woman, tje dedicated warrior, and he understood that Danica, too, had been forced into a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/drizzt-looked-long-and-hard-at-the-young-woman-tje-dedicated-warrior/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“without empathy he will find no purpose. Without purpose, he will find no satisfaction. Without satisfaction, he will find no contentment, and without contentment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/without-empathy-he-will-find-no-purpose-without-purpose-he-will-find/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Nothing burns in your heart like the emptiness of losing something, someone, before you truly have learned of its value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/nothing-burns-in-your-heart-like-the-emptiness-of-losing-something/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Matron Malice, her belly swollen in the final hours of pregnancy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/matron-malice-her-belly-swollen-in-the-final-hours-of-pregnancy/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“one should also be learning why and when to use a sword. To grant the power of a weapon master to anyone at all,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/one-should-also-be-learning-why-and-when-to-use-a-sword-to-grant-the/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“I pray that the world never runs out of dragons. I say that in all sincerity, though I have played a part in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/i-pray-that-the-world-never-runs-out-of-dragons-i-say-that-in-all/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Fortunate circumstances do not equate to high principles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/fortunate-circumstances-do-not-equate-to-high-principles/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Damn you to Lolth's web!" he said. "Don't you dare pretend if doesn't matter to you!" "Why do you care?" Drizzt growled back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/damn-you-to-lolth-s-web-he-said-don-t-you-dare-pretend-if-doesn-t/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“We - at least we of sincere character - always judge ourselves by stricter standards than we expect others to abide by.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/we-at-least-we-of-sincere-character-always-judge-ourselves-by/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) [Explore all 110 R.A. Salvatore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. 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