If we assume the best in people, we can radically redesign our democracy and welfare states.
Rutger BregmanRead
Since long workdays lead to more errors, shorter workdays could reduce accidents. Overtime is deadly. Tired surgeons have been found to be more prone to slip'ups, and soldiers who get too little shuteye are more prone to miss targets.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Shorter workdays can improve performance and safety by reducing fatigue.
The quote emphasizes the negative impact of long work hours on productivity and safety, particularly in high-stakes professions such as surgery and military operations. It suggests that reducing work hours can mitigate errors and accidents caused by fatigue, therefore promoting a healthier work-life balance that ultimately benefits both individuals and their professions.
Themes
WorkFatigueSafetyEfficiencyProductivity
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting discussing work-life balance, the quote can highlight the importance of reducing work hours.
More from Rutger Bregman
All quotes βMy hope is that the corona crisis will help bring us into a new age of cooperation and solidarity and a realization that we're in this together.
Rutger BregmanRead
This is what a crisis does: It makes you question the status quo. That doesn't mean that after a crisis we move into some kind of utopia. But it is an opportunity for political change.
Rutger BregmanRead
While it won't solve all the world's ills - and ideas such as a rent cap and more social housing are necessary in places where housing is scarce - a basic income would work like venture capital for the people.
Rutger BregmanRead
Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and generals. That we can trust people to govern themselves and make their own decisions.
Rutger BregmanRead
We so often tend to think our democracies are ruled by procedures and laws, but they are also governed by implicit rules and assumptions and one of them is the ability to feel shame - that you can be shamed.
Rutger BregmanRead
Similar quotes
If you want to prevent abortions, you make sure everyone has health care, a high school education and birth control. Not the exact opposite.
Chris RockRead
Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I've done it thousands of times.
Mark TwainRead
Sleep is extremely important to me - I need to rest and recover in order for the training I do to be absorbed by my body.
Usain BoltRead
The drama of AIDS threatens not just some nations or societies, but the whole of humanity. It knows no frontiers of geography, race, age or social condition(calling) for a supreme effort of international cooperation on the part of government, the world medical and scientific community and all those who exercise influence in developing a sense of more responsibility in society.
Pope John Paul IiRead
If you take care of your body, it'll take care of you.
Oprah WinfreyRead
The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage every day.
HippocratesRead