Human capital will go where it is wanted, and it will stay where it is well treated. It cannot be driven; it can only be attracted.
The information revolution has changed people's perception of wealth. We originally said that land was wealth. Then we thought it was industrial production. Now we realize it's intellectual capital. The market is showing us that intellectual capital is far more important that money. This is a major change in the way the world works. the same thing that happened to the farmers during the Industrial Revolution is now happening to people in industry as we move into the information age.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the shift in the understanding of wealth from physical assets to intellectual capital in the information age.
Walter Wriston's quote emphasizes the transformative effect of the information revolution on our perception of wealth. It illustrates how society has evolved from valuing land and industrial production as primary sources of wealth, to recognizing the importance of intellectual capital as the most critical asset in today's world. This shift marks a significant change in economic dynamics, signaling a move from tangible to intangible value in the marketplace.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the future of work, this quote reminds professionals to invest in their knowledge and skills.
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For it is the dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing.
Somehow, she had grown into a woman in between the fall of kings and collapse of worlds. Once she had been terrified of change. Then she had been terrified of losing Elend. Now her fears were more nebulous - worries of what would come after she was gone, worries of what would happen to the people of the empire if she failed.
If you want to change who you are, begin by changing the size of your dream. Even if you are broke, it does not cost you anything to dream of being rich. Many poor people are poor because they have given up on dreaming.