A rat race is a

metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide, or obscure, clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to cr ...

used to describe an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. The phrase is sometimes used to relate the human life to that of rats attempting to earn an ultimately pointless reward when death is inevitable. While rats pursue cheese, humans pursue financial and competitive gain. While both often compete and

struggle for existence The concept of the struggle for existence (or struggle for life) concerns the competition or battle for resources needed to live. It can refer to human society, or to organisms in nature. The concept is ancient, and the term ''struggle for existe ...

, both humans and rats eventually reach the same fate:

death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

. This ultimately represents a

nihilistic Nihilism () encompasses various views that reject certain aspects of existence. There have been different nihilist positions, including the views that life is meaningless, that moral values are baseless, and that knowledge is impossible. Thes ...

philosophical approach to life and society. The term is also commonly associated with an exhausting, repetitive lifestyle that leaves no time for relaxation or enjoyment.

Etymology

In the late 1800s, the term "rat-run" was used meaning "maze-like passages by which rats move about their territory", commonly used in a derogatory sense. By the 1930s actual rat races of some sort are frequently mentioned among carnival and gambling attractions. By 1934, "rat-race" was also used in reference to aviation training, referring to a " follow-the-leader" game in which a trainee fighter pilot had to copy all the actions (loops, rolls, spins,

Immelmann turn The term Immelmann turn, named after German Empire, German World War I Eindecker fighter ace Leutnant Max Immelmann, refers to two different aircraft maneuvers. In World War I aerial combat, an Immelmann turn was a maneuver used after an attack ...

s etc.) performed by an experienced pilot. From 1939, the phrase took on the meaning of "competitive struggle" referring to a person's work and life.

Historical usage

'' The Rat Race'' was used as a title for a novel written by Jay Franklin in 1947 for ''Colliers'' Magazine and first published in book form in 1950. It is dedicated ''To those few rats in Washington who do not carry brief-cases.'' The term "rat race" was used in an article about

Samuel Goudsmit Samuel Abraham Goudsmit (July 11, 1902 – December 4, 1978) was a Dutch-American physicist famous for jointly proposing the concept of electron spin with George Eugene Uhlenbeck in 1925. Life and career Goudsmit was born in The Hague, Ne ...

published in 1953 entitled: ''A Farewell to String and Sealing Wax~I'' in which Daniel Lang wrote: Philip K. Dick used the term in " The Last of the Masters" published in 1954: Jim Bishop used the term rat race in his book ''The Golden Ham: A Candid Biography of Jackie Gleason.'' The term occurs in a letter

Jackie Gleason Herbert John Gleason (born Herbert Walton Gleason Jr.; February 26, 1916June 24, 1987), known as Jackie Gleason, was an American comedian, actor, writer, and composer also known as "The Great One". He developed a style and characters from growin ...

wrote to his wife in which he says: "Television is a rat race, and remember this, even if you win you are still a rat." William H. Whyte used the term rat race in The Organization Man published in 1956: Merle A. Tuve used the term rat race in a 1959 article entitled "Is Science Too Big for the Scientist?", writing:

David Foster Wallace David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American writer and professor who published novels, short stories, and essays. He is best known for his 1996 novel ''Infinite Jest'', which ''Time (magazine), Time'' magazine ...

used the term rat race in his 2005 commencement speech entitled "The Most Precious Freedom":

Solutions

"Escaping the rat race" can have a number of different meanings: * Movement from work or geographical location into (typically) a more rural area *

Retirement Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload. Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...

, quitting or ceasing work * Moving from a job of high strenuosity to one of lesser strenuosity * Adopting a Buddha-like mindset * Changing to a different job altogether *

Remote work Remote work (also called telecommuting, telework, work from or at home, WFH as an initialism, hybrid work, and other terms) is the practice of work (human activity), working at or from one's home or Third place, another space rather than from ...

* Becoming financially independent from an employer * Living in harmony with nature * Developing an inner attitude of detachment from materialistic pursuits * Alienation from the norms of society

Music

* "

Rat Race A rat race is a metaphor used to describe an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. The phrase is sometimes used to relate the human life to that of rats attempting to earn an ultimately pointless reward when Mortality salience, death ...

" by British rock band

Enter Shikari Enter Shikari are a British Rock music, rock band formed in St Albans in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and drummer Rob Rolfe. In 2003, guitarist Rory Clewlow joined the band to complete its current li ...

(2013) *''Have a Blast'' Periphery II by Periphery (2012) * " Slave to the Wage" by English

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band

Placebo A placebo ( ) can be roughly defined as a sham medical treatment. Common placebos include inert tablets (like sugar pills), inert injections (like saline), sham surgery, and other procedures. Placebos are used in randomized clinical trials ...

(2000) * "Escape (Free Yo Mind From This Rat Race)" by American singer

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

" by English ska band

The Specials The Specials, also known as the Special AKA, were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, J ...

(1980) *"Mice Race" by British

anarcho-punk Anarcho-punk (also known as anarchist punk or peace punk) is an ideological subgenre of punk rock that promotes anarchism. Some use the term broadly to refer to any punk music with anarchist lyrical content, which may figure in crust punk, ha ...

band Rudimentary Peni (1982) *"Rat Race" by

Billy Idol William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Idol achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X ...

(2005) *"Rat Race" by

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

(1976) *"Rat Race" by Babbu Maan (2020) *"The Clockwise Witness" by DeVotchKa describes the futility of the rat race (2008) *"Even if You Win, You're Still a Rat" by British

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

band

Architects An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

(2012) * '' RatRace'' by English metal band Skindred (2007) *" The Racing Rats" by English rock band

Editors Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, organization, a ...

(2007) * Mentioned in the song "

Country House image:Blenheim - Blenheim Palace - 20210417125239.jpg, 300px, Blenheim Palace - Oxfordshire An English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a Townhou ...

" by English rock band Blur (1995)

References

External links

Rat Race, A short film story by Steve Cutts