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The nature of business and government has been to build a surplus and self-perpetuate, but the Internet fosters and rewards smaller, more fluid organizations.
Esther Dyson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The Internet encourages smaller and more flexible organizations over traditional large businesses and governments.

This quote by Esther Dyson highlights the fundamental shift that the Internet has brought about in the landscape of business and governance. Whereas traditional entities tend to focus on creating surplus and maintaining their own continuity, the digital age promotes smaller, agile organizations that can adapt quickly and effectively to changes, fostering innovation and responsiveness rather than stagnation.

Themes

InternetBusinessOrganizationInnovationAgility

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about modern entrepreneurship, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of agility in business.

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