--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole of our civilization is founded…" description: "\"The whole of our civilization is founded on specialization, which implies the enslavement of those who execute to those who coordinate.\" — Simone Weil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/simone-weil-544_bureaucracy_the-whole-of-our-civilization-is-founded_2679445.jpg" --- # The whole of our civilization is founded on… ![“The whole of our civilization is founded on specialization, which implies the enslavement of those who execute to those who coordinate.” quote by Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/simone-weil-544_bureaucracy_the-whole-of-our-civilization-is-founded_2679445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/simone-weil-544_bureaucracy_the-whole-of-our-civilization-is-founded_2679445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/simone-weil-544_bureaucracy_the-whole-of-our-civilization-is-founded_2679445.jpg) > “The whole of our civilization is founded on specialization, which implies the enslavement of those who execute to those who coordinate.” [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. Specialization creates a hierarchy where executors are subjugated by coordinators, limiting freedom. **In simple terms:** Specialization enslaves workers. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance power between roles. Themes power hierarchy freedom labor specialization Mood critical reflective Type philosophical social When to use this quote - workplace - policy design - union negotiations - organizational restructuring Key Concepts social theory philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can we empower executors while maintaining coordination? - What structures reduce exploitation? A Different Perspective May overlook benefits of expertise and coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Coordinates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coordinates/) [Enslavement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enslavement/) [Enslavement Execute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enslavement-execute-2568430/) [Founded Specialization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founded-specialization-2568431/) [Implies Enslavement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implies-enslavement-2568429/) [Specialization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specialization/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [ \[States and the Federal government are\] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... 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For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/thousands-of-years-of-ideological-philosophical-and-practical/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The US has developed two coordinate governing classes: the one, called 'business,' building cities, manufacturing and distributing goods, and holding complete and autocratic power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurman-arnold/the-us-has-developed-two-coordinate-governing-classes-the-one-called/) [Thurman Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurman-arnold/) > [Syria is ready to cooperate and coordinate all efforts, whether regional or international, to combat terrorism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walid-muallem/syria-is-ready-to-cooperate-and-coordinate-all-efforts-whether/) [Walid Muallem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walid-muallem/) ## 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. 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