Economic growth Quote by Yuval Noah Harari
““This is an existential threat to the social and economic order, which is why countries wage a stubborn, bloody and hopeless war on biochemical crime. The state hopes to regulate the biochemical pursuit of happiness, separating ‘bad’ manipulations from ‘good’ ones. The principle is clear: biochemical manipulations that strengthen political stability, social order and economic growth are allowed and even encouraged (e.g., those that calm hyperactive kids in school, or drive anxious soldiers forward into battle). Manipulations that threaten stability and growth are banned. But each year new drugs are born in the research labs of universities, pharmaceutical companies and criminal organisations, and the needs of the state and the market also keep changing.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Biochemical Ethics, 2023
The quote warns that governments may permit drug use that supports stability while banning those that threaten it, creating a double standard in regulating mind‑altering substances.
In simple terms: State may allow drugs that help control people but ban those that could disrupt power.
Key Takeaway
Question how power shapes drug policy.
Themes
ethics
politics
science
control
freedom
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government policy
- pharmaceutical research
- civil liberties
- public health
Key Concepts
biochemistry
social engineering
regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards could prevent abuse of such policies?
- Who decides which manipulations are “good”?
A Different Perspective
The claim assumes all regulation is purely political, ignoring genuine safety concerns.
