--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a world that’s getting ever richer…" description: "\"“In a world that’s getting ever richer, where cows produce more milk and robots produce more stuff, there’s more room for friends, family, community se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg" --- # In a world that’s getting ever richer, where cows produce… ![“In a world that’s getting ever richer, where cows produce more milk and robots produce more stuff, there’s more room for friends, family, community service, science, art, sports, and all the other things that make life worthwhile. But there’s also more room for bullshit. As long as we continue to…” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg) > ““In a world that’s getting ever richer, where cows produce more milk and robots produce more stuff, there’s more room for friends, family, community service, science, art, sports, and all the other things that make life worthwhile. But there’s also more room for bullshit. As long as we continue to be obsessed with work, work, and more work (even as useful activities are further automated or outsourced), the number of superfluous jobs will only continue to grow. Much like the number of managers in the developed world, which has grown over the last thirty years without making us a dime richer. On the contrary, studies show that countries with more managers are actually less productive and innovative.15 In a survey of 12,000 professionals by the Harvard Business Review, half said they felt their job had no “meaning and significance,” and an equal number were unable to relate to their company’s mission.16 Another recent poll revealed that as many as 37% of British workers think they have a bullshit job.17”” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic growth creates both meaningful opportunities and unnecessary work; many jobs lack purpose, leading to dissatisfaction. **In simple terms:** More wealth, more pointless jobs. Key Takeaway Seek purpose, not just productivity. Themes meaning economics work culture automation Mood critical thought‑provoking Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - career planning - company restructuring - policy making - personal development Key Concepts purpose‑driven work productivity paradox managerial bloat Questions to Reflect On - What makes a job meaningful? - How can organizations reduce pointless roles? A Different Perspective Productivity can be hollow without meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Community service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community-service/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [It makes me angry to think that . . . female sanitation workers will spend their days doing a job most of their co-workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/it-makes-me-angry-to-think-that-female-sanitation-workers-will-spend/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Government workers think the job of everyone else in the economy is to protect their high salaries, crazy work rules and obscene pensions. 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But there’s also more room for bullshit. As long as we continue to be obsessed with work, work, and more work (even as useful activities are further automated or outsourced), the number of superfluous jobs will only continue to grow. Much like the number of managers in the developed world, which has grown over the last thirty years without making us a dime richer. On the contrary, studies show that countries with more managers are actually less productive and innovative.15 In a survey of 12,000 professionals by the Harvard Business Review, half said they felt their job had no “meaning and significance,” and an equal number were unable to relate to their company’s mission.16 Another recent poll revealed that as many as 37% of British workers think they have a bullshit job.17”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rutger Bregman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-where-cows-produce-more-milk/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-where-cows-produce-more-milk/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55a/rutger-bregman-2463_business_in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-wh_3035731.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In a world that’s getting ever richer, where cows produce more milk and robots produce more stuff, there’s…” — Rutger Bregman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rutger Bregman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In a world that’s getting ever...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-where-cows-produce-more-milk/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/in-a-world-that-s-getting-ever-richer-where-cows-produce-more-milk/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```