---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Case had always taken it for granted that…"
description: "\"“Case had always taken it for granted that the real bosses, the kingpins in a given industry, would be both more and less than people... He'd seen it i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/william-gibson-642_capitalism_case-had-always-taken-it-for-granted-tha_469859.png"
---

#  Case had always taken it for granted that the real bosses…

![“Case had always taken it for granted that the real bosses, the kingpins in a given industry, would be both more and less than people... He'd seen it in the men who'd crippled him in Memphis, he'd seen Wage affect the semblance of it in Night City, and it had allowed him to accept Armitrage's…” quote by William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/william-gibson-642_capitalism_case-had-always-taken-it-for-granted-tha_469859.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/william-gibson-642_capitalism_case-had-always-taken-it-for-granted-tha_469859.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/088/william-gibson-642_capitalism_case-had-always-taken-it-for-granted-tha_469859.png)

> ““Case had always taken it for granted that the real bosses, the kingpins in a given industry, would be both more and less than people... He'd seen it in the men who'd crippled him in Memphis, he'd seen Wage affect the semblance of it in Night City, and it had allowed him to accept Armitrage's flatness and lack of feeling. He'd always imagined it as a gradual and willing accommodation of the machine, the system, the parent organism. It was the root of street cool, too, the knowing posture that implied connection, invisible lines up to hidden levels of influence.””

[William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Power structures are both visible and hidden, shaping behavior and identity.

**In simple terms:** Power is seen and unseen, influencing us.

Key Takeaway

Recognize hidden influences.

Themes

power society identity

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- corporate life
- urban survival
- personal ambition

Key Concepts

systems hierarchy culture

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance awareness of hidden power with personal freedom?
- Can recognizing influence change its effect?

A Different Perspective

Assumes a deterministic view of agency.

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[Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Real boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-boss/)

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