--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The speed with which bureaucracy has…" description: "\"The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every branch of human activity is something astounding once one thinks about it.\" — Simone Weil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg" --- # The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every… ![“The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every branch of human activity is something astounding once one thinks about it.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg) > “The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every branch of human activity is something astounding once one thinks about it.” [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bureaucracy spreads rapidly across all human domains, often stifling individuality and efficiency. **In simple terms:** Bureaucracy overwhelms many areas. Key Takeaway Seek balance between structure and flexibility. Themes bureaucracy efficiency individuality Mood critical analytical Type sociopolitical philosophical When to use this quote - government - corporate - non‑profit - education Key Concepts sociology political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations stay agile? - What safeguards protect personal agency? A Different Perspective Complex systems resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Human activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-activity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Whether the mask is labeled fascism, democracy, or dictatorship of the proletariat, our great adversary remains the apparatus—the bureaucracy, the police, the military. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/whether-the-mask-is-labeled-fascism-democracy-or-dictatorship-of-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Perhaps the facts most astounding and most real are never communicated by man to man. The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/perhaps-the-facts-most-astounding-and-most-real-are-never/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The myriad of ways that a song can be interpreted is astounding to me, and it's part of the allure of writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/the-myriad-of-ways-that-a-song-can-be-interpreted-is-astounding-to-me/) LP > [Flipping through the 'Toronto Star' one day in 2008, I noticed a piece about a phenomenal boxer from the Philippines who had won several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/flipping-through-the-toronto-star-one-day-in-2008-i-noticed-a-piece/) [Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/) > [Everything I have done, every change I have made to that circus, every impossible feat and astounding sight, I have done for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/everything-i-have-done-every-change-i-have-made-to-that-circus-every/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [You're doubtful, I'm astounding. You talk shit while I'm smiling. You're hatin, while I live it. You're watching me as I kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-doubtful-i-m-astounding-you-talk-shit-while-i-m-smiling-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like a lot of people, I read 'The Diary of Anne Frank' again and again and again when I was growing up - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-hesse/like-a-lot-of-people-i-read-the-diary-of-anne-frank-again-and-again/) [Monica Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-hesse/) > [I probably saved more black lives as mayor of New York City than any mayor in the history of this city. And I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-probably-saved-more-black-lives-as-mayor-of-new-york-city-than-any/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [Today, over one million people now make their living on eBay, which is astounding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/today-over-one-million-people-now-make-their-living-on-ebay-which-is/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [So astounding are the facts in this connection, that it would seem as though the Creator, himself had electrically designed this planet...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/so-astounding-are-the-facts-in-this-connection-that-it-would-seem-as/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Rumi is astounding, fertile, abundant, almost more an excitable library of poetry than a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/rumi-is-astounding-fertile-abundant-almost-more-an-excitable-library/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [All finite things have their roots in the infinite, and if you wish to understand life at all, you cannot tear out its context.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/all-finite-things-have-their-roots-in-the-infinite-and-if-you-wish-to/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [To grow up knowing you're loved is astounding. It's a huge gift to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/to-grow-up-knowing-you-re-loved-is-astounding-it-s-a-huge-gift-to-a/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [I go to bed every night and the list of what I've accomplished is astounding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-go-to-bed-every-night-and-the-list-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-is/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [When the Veterans Affairs Department implemented a program to provide home-based health care to veterans with multiple chronic conditions - many of the system's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/when-the-veterans-affairs-department-implemented-a-program-to-provide/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) ## More by Simone Weil > [Oppression that is clearly inexorable and invincible does not give rise to revolt but to submission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/oppression-that-is-clearly-inexorable-and-invincible-does-not-give/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [One should identify oneself with the universe itself. Everything that is less than the universe is subjected to suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/one-should-identify-oneself-with-the-universe-itself-everything-that/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [What a country calls its vital economic interests are not the things which enable its citizens to live, but the things which enable it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/what-a-country-calls-its-vital-economic-interests-are-not-the-things/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The intelligent man who is proud of his intelligence is like the condemned man who is proud of his large cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-intelligent-man-who-is-proud-of-his-intelligence-is-like-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The highest ecstasy is the attention at its fullest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-highest-ecstasy-is-the-attention-at-its-fullest/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [To be innocent is to bear the weight of the entire universe. It is to throw away the counterweight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/to-be-innocent-is-to-bear-the-weight-of-the-entire-universe-it-is-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Equality is the public recognition, effectively expressed in institutions and manners, of the principle that an equal degree of attention is due to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/equality-is-the-public-recognition-effectively-expressed-in/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The entire universe is nothing but a great metaphor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-entire-universe-is-nothing-but-a-great-metaphor/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [A beautiful woman looking at her image in the mirror may very well believe the image is herself. An ugly woman knows it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-beautiful-woman-looking-at-her-image-in-the-mirror-may-very-well/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Only he who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love andjustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/only-he-who-has-measured-the-dominion-of-force-and-knows-how-not-to/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Every time that I think of the crucifixion of Christ, I commit the sin of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/every-time-that-i-think-of-the-crucifixion-of-christ-i-commit-the-sin/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [A Pharisee is someone who is virtuous out of obedience to the Great Beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-pharisee-is-someone-who-is-virtuous-out-of-obedience-to-the-great/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Joy is being fully aware of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/joy-is-being-fully-aware-of-reality/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) [Explore all 443 Simone Weil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [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/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every branch of human activity is something astounding once one thinks about it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simone Weil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-invaded-almost-every-branch-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-invaded-almost-every-branch-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/simone-weil-544_activity_the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-inv_1600057.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The speed with which bureaucracy has invaded almost every branch of human activity is something astounding…” — Simone Weil", "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": "Simone Weil", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The speed with which bureaucracy has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-invaded-almost-every-branch-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-speed-with-which-bureaucracy-has-invaded-almost-every-branch-of/#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 } } ] } ```