--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: humans agree to give up meaning in…" description: "\"“humans agree to give up meaning in exchange for power.”\" — Yuval Noah Harari" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/yuval-noah-harari-100_meaning_humans-agree-to-give-up-meaning-in-excha_3190781.jpg" --- # humans agree to give up meaning in exchange for power. ![“humans agree to give up meaning in exchange for power.” quote by Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/yuval-noah-harari-100_meaning_humans-agree-to-give-up-meaning-in-excha_3190781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/yuval-noah-harari-100_meaning_humans-agree-to-give-up-meaning-in-excha_3190781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0d/yuval-noah-harari-100_meaning_humans-agree-to-give-up-meaning-in-excha_3190781.jpg) > ““humans agree to give up meaning in exchange for power.”” [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often sacrifice personal meaning for the pursuit of power and control. **In simple terms:** Power can replace purpose. Key Takeaway Consider what you truly value. Themes power meaning existence Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - career advancement - political leadership - social media influence - corporate culture Key Concepts existentialism psychology political theory Questions to Reflect On - What does power cost you personally? - How can meaning be reclaimed without losing influence? A Different Perspective Power can lead to emptiness if not balanced with purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree-meaning-1487932/) [Exchange Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exchange-power-5815185/) [Humans Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans-agree-1487933/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Meaning Exchange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-exchange-1026136/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Modernity is a deal. The entire contract can be summarised in a single phrase: humans agree to give up meaning in exchange for power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/modernity-is-a-deal-the-entire-contract-can-be-summarised-in-a-single/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Yet in fact modernity is a surprisingly simple deal. 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We invented them to serve us; why do we find ourselves sacrificing our lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/corporations-money-and-nations-exist-only-in-our-imagination-we/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Small children in affluent societies often dislike showering, and it takes them years of education and parental discipline to adopt this supposedly attractive custom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/small-children-in-affluent-societies-often-dislike-showering-and-it/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Ever more scholars see cultures as a kind of mental infection or parasite, with humans as its unwitting host. 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It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [Without meaning to sound crass, I've never had any psychological... help. It's because I feel my work is so revealing about who I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/without-meaning-to-sound-crass-i-ve-never-had-any-psychological-help/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [“You can drink your soup ice-cold, but it's no longer soup; you can do eccentric things in life, but if you haven't been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-drink-your-soup-ice-cold-but-it-s-no-longer-soup-you-can-do/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Buy calmly and with meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/buy-calmly-and-with-meaning/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [There is a grand design hidden behind the obstacles , they are inevitable in everybodys life, they are not without purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/there-is-a-grand-design-hidden-behind-the-obstacles-they-are/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [“Meaning - this is perhaps the common note, the bane I am seeking. 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