# A Feedback Loop Needs Values Stronger Than Reward by Bryant McGill > “A feedback loop becomes a conscience only when the values governing the loop are stronger than the reward passing through it.” > **— Bryant McGill**, *The Argument in Miniature, 2026* ## Sources and Context - **Original authored source:** [[projects/The Argument in Miniature - How I Write Quotations, Paragraphs, and Reusable Prose|The Argument in Miniature]], “Syndication as a continuation of composition” (September 27, 2026). - **Exact wording:** “A feedback loop becomes a conscience only when the values governing the loop are stronger than the reward passing through it.” - **Context:** The sentence distinguishes cybernetic responsiveness from moral judgment by subordinating reward signals to governing values. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Project:** [[projects/The Argument in Miniature - How I Write Quotations, Paragraphs, and Reusable Prose|The Argument in Miniature]] - **Project:** [[projects/AutoSites - Folder-Native Publishing and Distribution|AutoSites]] - **Project:** [[projects/Simple Reminders - Global Influence Operations and Information Warfare|Simple Reminders at Planetary Scale]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Cybernetic Feedback Loop|Cybernetic Feedback Loop]] - [[wiki/Cybernetics|Cybernetics]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “A feedback loop becomes a conscience only when the values governing the loop are stronger than the reward passing through it.” — Bryant McGill, The Argument in Miniature, 2026 https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-bryant-mcgill-feedback-loop-values-reward ```