All that is left in the world is an enormous machine, made…
““All that is left in the world is an enormous machine, made of white steel. It has innumerable flexible arms, made of steel. Long, thin arms. At the end of each arm is an eye, the eyelashes stiff with mascara. When I look more closely I see that only some of the arms have these eyes–others have lights. The arms that carry the eyes and the arms that carry the lights are all extraordinarily flexible and very beautiful. But they grey sky, which is the background, terrifies me. . . . And the arms wave to an accompaniment of music and of song. Like this: 'Hotcha–hotcha–hotcha. . . .' And I know the music; I can sing the song. . . .””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A surreal description of a massive, flexible steel structure with eyes and lights, evoking both beauty and terror.
In simple terms: A gigantic, intricate machine can be both mesmerizing and frightening.
Key Takeaway
Balance awe of complexity with awareness of its unsettling aspects.
Themes
beauty
terror
technology
surrealism
Mood
melancholic
wonderful
Type
fictional
poetic
When to use this quote
- Encountering avant‑garde art
- confronting mechanization
- experiencing disorientation
Key Concepts
Industrial metaphor
human perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this image reflect your view of modern life?
- What fears does the mechanical beauty provoke?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure practical implications of technology.