Communication Quote by Yuval Noah Harari
““Intersubjective entities depend on communication among many humans rather than on the beliefs and feelings of individual humans. Many of the most important agents in history are intersubjective. Money, for example, has no objective value. You cannot eat, drink or wear a dollar bill. Yet as long as billions of people believe in its value, you can use it to buy food, beverages and clothing. If the baker suddenly loses his faith in the dollar bill and refuses to give me a loaf of bread for this green piece of paper, it doesn’t matter much. I can just go down a few blocks to the nearby supermarket. However, if the supermarket cashiers also refuse to accept this piece of paper, along with the hawkers in the market and the salespeople in the mall, then the dollar will lose its value. The green pieces of paper will go on existing, of course, but they will be worthless.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari, 2015
Value arises from collective belief and shared communication, not intrinsic properties of objects.
In simple terms: Things are valuable because people agree they are.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of shared belief systems.
Themes
economics
social constructs
trust
collective belief
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- currency use
- market transactions
- policy making
- community building
Key Concepts
subjectivity
interdependence
social reality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do shared beliefs shape your daily decisions?
- What happens when trust erodes in a community?
A Different Perspective
If consensus collapses, the system fails quickly.
