---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was always tearing stuff apart to see…"
description: "\"I was always tearing stuff apart to see how it worked.\" — Adam Yauch"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png"
---

#  I was always tearing stuff apart to see how it worked.

![“I was always tearing stuff apart to see how it worked.” quote by Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png)

> “I was always tearing stuff apart to see how it worked.”

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Curiosity drives learning; dismantling objects reveals underlying mechanisms.

**In simple terms:** Break things to learn how they work.

Key Takeaway

Explore by deconstructing.

Themes

curiosity learning experimentation

Mood

inquisitive playful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- DIY projects
- engineering studies
- product design
- science education

Key Concepts

Mechanics systems thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What safe ways can you test this curiosity?
- When is dismantling inappropriate?

A Different Perspective

Destructive approach may cause loss or danger.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [In Britain, you know there are people waiting to tear your stuff apart, so it's important for me to know that my music has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-harris/in-britain-you-know-there-are-people-waiting-to-tear-your-stuff-apart/)

[Calvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-harris/)

> [My mom and dad had a store, and sometimes people would return broken stuff. I'd take it apart and reassemble it. At 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-wanders/my-mom-and-dad-had-a-store-and-sometimes-people-would-return-broken/)

[Marcel Wanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-wanders/)

> [To me, as a producer, I always want something to set stuff apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/to-me-as-a-producer-i-always-want-something-to-set-stuff-apart/)

[Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/)

> [I'm starting to feel like I can actually figure out how stuff works. I can actually pick stuff apart and have a chance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-giertz/i-m-starting-to-feel-like-i-can-actually-figure-out-how-stuff-works-i/)

[Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/)

> [Basically, Pizza Hut just backed out on the ad agency at the last minute. They got fired and we got fired. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-ween/basically-pizza-hut-just-backed-out-on-the-ad-agency-at-the-last/)

[Gene Ween](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-ween/)

> [This feeling's tearing me up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-cyrus/this-feeling-s-tearing-me-up/)

[Trace Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-cyrus/)

> [By the end of the time I'm writing a book, I'm tearing my hair out and I want to go do stand-up. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/by-the-end-of-the-time-i-m-writing-a-book-i-m-tearing-my-hair-out-and/)

[Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/)

> [“Tearing money is an impiety, like throwing away bread.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/tearing-money-is-an-impiety-like-throwing-away-bread/)

[Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/)

> [“She rolled over and sat up as he bent, tearing off his boots. "Whatcha doing?" "Getting naked." "I like that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurann-dohner/she-rolled-over-and-sat-up-as-he-bent-tearing-off-his-boots-whatcha/)

[Laurann Dohner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurann-dohner/)

> [“Limb by limb and tooth by tooth, Tearing up inside of me, Every day, every hour, just wish that I... Was bulletproof”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/limb-by-limb-and-tooth-by-tooth-tearing-up-inside-of-me-every-day/)

[Radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/)

> [“We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/we-are-defining-the-boundaries-of-normality-by-tearing-apart-the/)

[Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/)

> [“But if you don’t ride me hard enough, I’m flipping you over and tearing that ass up. Got it?” “That sounds fair.” I nod…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kennedy-ryan/but-if-you-don-t-ride-me-hard-enough-i-m-flipping-you-over-and/)

[Kennedy Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kennedy-ryan/)

> [You cannot help the small men, by tearing down the big men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/you-cannot-help-the-small-men-by-tearing-down-the-big-men/)

[William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/)

> [Is this the part where you start tearing off strips of your shirt to bind my wounds?" "If you wanted me to rip my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/is-this-the-part-where-you-start-tearing-off-strips-of-your-shirt-to/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/)

[Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/)

## More by Adam Yauch

> [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [From being in Tibet and being around Tibetans, I feel like I've learned so much more about what brings a person happiness, about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/from-being-in-tibet-and-being-around-tibetans-i-feel-like-i-ve/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [When I was younger, I felt like I could say anything and it was funny. I've started to realize that what I say and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/when-i-was-younger-i-felt-like-i-could-say-anything-and-it-was-funny/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [Just as we were finishing 'Paul's Boutique' we got our own places, and I was going out to clubs a lot less. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/just-as-we-were-finishing-paul-s-boutique-we-got-our-own-places-and-i/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [Music is going to go in some direction that is entirely inconceivable now. If someone had been asked twenty years ago what direction they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/music-is-going-to-go-in-some-direction-that-is-entirely-inconceivable/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [If I feel like I've done the best that I can or conducted myself in the most constructive way that I can in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/if-i-feel-like-i-ve-done-the-best-that-i-can-or-conducted-myself-in/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [I feel that working with the camera and editing it is actually my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-feel-that-working-with-the-camera-and-editing-it-is-actually-my/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [We're gonna do a Bowling for Dollars-type thing, but it'll be Breakdancing on Cardboard for Yen for the ozone layer, so it'll be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/we-re-gonna-do-a-bowling-for-dollars-type-thing-but-it-ll-be/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [When I hear Obama speak he just seems really sincere and he just seems like somebody who actually has his heart and his motivation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/when-i-hear-obama-speak-he-just-seems-really-sincere-and-he-just/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [I think the main focus in America is - is basically greed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-think-the-main-focus-in-america-is-is-basically-greed/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [I do think that all of the well wishes have contributed to the fact that my treatment and recovery are going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-do-think-that-all-of-the-well-wishes-have-contributed-to-the-fact/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [If we keep bombing other people, that creates more anger. Tensions keep escalating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/if-we-keep-bombing-other-people-that-creates-more-anger-tensions-keep/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [The teachings of Tibetan Buddhism have been passed down for a long time now. They have that system pretty well figured out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-teachings-of-tibetan-buddhism-have-been-passed-down-for-a-long/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [It feels good to play a little music / Tears running down my face 'cause I love to do it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/it-feels-good-to-play-a-little-music-tears-running-down-my-face-cause/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

> [It just seemed like Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism - because that's mainly what I've been exposed to - was a real solid organization of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/it-just-seemed-like-buddhism-especially-tibetan-buddhism-because-that/)

[Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

[Explore all 38 Adam Yauch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

Browse all 36,048 Always quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was always tearing stuff apart to see how it worked.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Adam Yauch"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see-how-it-worked/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see-how-it-worked/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/adam-yauch-16913_always_i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see_1946934.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was always tearing stuff apart to see how it worked.” — Adam Yauch",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Adam Yauch",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was always tearing stuff apart...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see-how-it-worked/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/i-was-always-tearing-stuff-apart-to-see-how-it-worked/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
