# Quote — Daniel Quinn, Ishmael

> “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.”

- Author: [Daniel Quinn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn.md)
- Book: [Ishmael](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/ishmael.md)
- Page: 251
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Daniel_Quinn#Ishmael_(1992)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/ishmael/the-world-of-the

## More from this book

> Of course it’s not enough. But if you begin anywhere else, there’s no hope at all.

p. 248 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/ishmael/of-course-its.md)

> If the will is there, the method will be found.

p. 140 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/ishmael/if-the-will.md)

> “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 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-quinn/ishmael/one-thing-i-know.md)