Morpheus: The need to be observed and understood was once satisfied by God. Now we can implement the same functionality with data-mining algorithms. JC Denton:

Morpheus: The need to be observed and understood was once satisfied by God. Now we can implement the same functionality with data-mining algorithms. JC Denton: Electronic surveillance hardly inspires reverence. Perhaps fear and obedience, but not reverence. Morpheus: God and the gods were apparitions of observation, judgment and punishment. Other sentiments towards them were secondary. JC Denton: No one will ever worship a software entity peering at them through a camera. Morpheus: The human organism always worships. First, it was the gods, then it was fame (the observation and judgment of others), next it will be self-aware systems you have built to realize truly omnipresent observation and judgment. JC Denton: You underestimate humankind's love of freedom. Morpheus: The individual desires judgment. Without that desire, the cohesion of groups is impossible, and so is civilization.