“The world of the Takers is one vast prison, and except for a handful of Leavers scattered across the world… — Daniel Quinn
“The world of the Takers is one vast prison, and except for a handful of Leavers scattered across the world, the entire human race is now inside that prison. During the last century every remaining Leaver people in North America was given a choice: to be exterminated or to accept imprisonment. Many chose imprisonment, but not many were actually capable of adjusting to prison life.”
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
Ishmael fixed me with a drooping, moist eye. “Naturally a well-run prison must have a prison industry. I’m sure you see why.”
“Well…it helps to keep the inmates busy, I suppose. Takes their minds off the boredom and futility of their lives.”
“Yes. Can you name yours?”
“Our prison industry? Not offhand. I suppose it’s obvious.”
“Quite obvious, I would say.”
I gave it some thought. “Consuming the world.”
Ishmael nodded. “Got it on the first try.”
p. 251Source: Wikiquote · CC BY-SA 4.0
More from this book
Of course it’s not enough. But if you begin anywhere else, there’s no hope at all.
p. 248
If the will is there, the method will be found.
p. 140
“One thing I know people will say to me is ‘Are you suggesting we go back to being hunter-gatherers?’”
“That of course is an inane idea,” Ishmael said. “The Leaver life-style isn’t about hunting and gathering, it’s about letting the rest of the community live—and agriculturalists can do that as well as hunter-gatherers.”
p. 250
