Parents are usually more careful to bestow knowledge on their children rather than virtue, the art of speaking well rather than doing well; but their manners should be of the greatest concern.
R. Buckminster FullerRead
If humans are not required to earn a living to be provided survival needs, many are going to want very much to be productive, but not at those tasks they did not choose to do but were forced to accept in order to earn money. Instead, humans will spontaneously take upon themselves those tasks that world society really needs to have done.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that without the need to earn money for survival, people would naturally engage in more meaningful and fulfilling work.
R. Buckminster Fuller argues that when survival needs are met without the requirement of earning a living, individuals will seek out work that is more personally meaningful to them rather than being coerced into jobs merely for financial survival. This implies a shift towards a society where productivity is driven by passion and necessity, rather than obligation and financial pressure.
Themes
ProductivityMeaningful WorkSurvivalSocietyChoice
In practice
Example use cases
In a keynote speech about future work environments, this quote could illustrate the importance of creating fulfilling job opportunities.
More from R. Buckminster Fuller
All quotes →There is no such thing as genius, some children are just less damaged than others.
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The end move in politics is always to pick up a gun.
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I have spent most of my life unlearning things that were proved not to be true
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The earth is like a spaceship that didn't come with an operating manual.
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