--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found a big container and put a bit of…" description: "\"“I found a big container and put a bit of water in it, then added the dried shit. Since then, I’ve added my own shit to it as well. The worse it smells..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg" --- # I found a big container and put a bit of water in it, then… ![“I found a big container and put a bit of water in it, then added the dried shit. Since then, I’ve added my own shit to it as well. The worse it smells, the better things are going. That’s the bacteria at work!” quote by Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg) > ““I found a big container and put a bit of water in it, then added the dried shit. Since then, I’ve added my own shit to it as well. The worse it smells, the better things are going. That’s the bacteria at work!”” [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphor describing how waste can be transformed into useful bacterial activity, implying that unpleasant processes can yield valuable results. **In simple terms:** Even dirty processes can create useful outcomes. Key Takeaway Embrace messy growth for beneficial change. Themes growth transformation biology innovation Mood reflective inquisitive Type metaphorical inspirational When to use this quote - composting - bioremediation - personal development - creative problem solving Key Concepts microbiology ecosystem dynamics resource recycling Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a negative situation into a productive one? - What “waste” in your life could become a resource? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex scientific processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-things/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) ## Related quotes > [The more you kick something that's dead, the worse it smells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-stanwyck/the-more-you-kick-something-that-s-dead-the-worse-it-smells/) [Barbara Stanwyck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-stanwyck/) > [You always need a bit of low-tech.You always need a pair of scissors, it seems to me. You can do better things… The high-tech,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-always-need-a-bit-of-low-tech-you-always-need-a-pair-of-scissors/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [...If our houses, or clothes, our household furniture and utensils are not works of art, they are either wretched makeshifts, or, what is worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/if-our-houses-or-clothes-our-household-furniture-and-utensils-are-not/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [To really enjoy the better things in life, one must first have experienced the things they are better than.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oskar-homolka/to-really-enjoy-the-better-things-in-life-one-must-first-have/) Oskar Homolka > [Even better things are thrown off , when expected comfortableness is not acquired Painful truth is that things are replaced by hearted humans too ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iquote/even-better-things-are-thrown-off-when-expected-comfortableness-is/) [Iquote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iquote/) > [Prayers go up, blessings pour down!! God always makes a way for better things to happen, feeling blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayers-go-up-blessings-pour-down-god-always-makes-a-way-for-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“Jay got up and walked to the trash to scrape off his plate, but when the trash can popped open, he stopped and reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-dell-antonia/jay-got-up-and-walked-to-the-trash-to-scrape-off-his-plate-but-when/) K.J. Dell'Antonia > [Good things come to those who wait, Better things come to those who try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-better-things-come-to-those-who-try/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Have fun in everything you do. Challenge yourself to bigger and better things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/have-fun-in-everything-you-do-challenge-yourself-to-bigger-and-better/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [“Oh, nothing. Only you really did help them, you know.” “Who?” “All the men who’ve come through this House. You helped them find their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-wecker/oh-nothing-only-you-really-did-help-them-you-know-who-all-the-men-who/) [Helene Wecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-wecker/) > [For now, I'm supposing that all movements are equal, which they're not, except in this respect: that none of them gives a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/for-now-i-m-supposing-that-all-movements-are-equal-which-they-re-not/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [Sometimes you have to let things go so theres room for better things to come into your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-let-things-go-so-theres-room-for-better-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I won't be tweeting this sunday. I have better things to do like bashing myself by following girls on streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-won-t-be-tweeting-this-sunday-i-have-better-things-to-do-like/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by Andy Weir > [“But seeing his status doesn’t help,” Mindy said. “It’s not like we can do anything about it if he falls behind. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/but-seeing-his-status-doesn-t-help-mindy-said-it-s-not-like-we-can-do/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“But no idiot-proofing can overcome a determined idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/but-no-idiot-proofing-can-overcome-a-determined-idiot/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“God damn it! I yelled to him. Will you stop wining about your problems during my murder!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/god-damn-it-i-yelled-to-him-will-you-stop-wining-about-your-problems/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“One thing I have in abundance here are bags. They're not much different than kitchen trash bags, though I'm sure they cost $50,000 because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/one-thing-i-have-in-abundance-here-are-bags-they-re-not-much/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“Fortunately, when you spend a lot of time in space, you learn how to shit in a bag.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/fortunately-when-you-spend-a-lot-of-time-in-space-you-learn-how-to/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/yes-of-course-duct-tape-works-in-a-near-vacuum-duct-tape-works/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“I’m leaving Mars today, one way or another. About fucking time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-m-leaving-mars-today-one-way-or-another-about-fucking-time/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. Don't wait for an inspired ending to come to mind. Work your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/a-good-plan-today-is-better-than-a-perfect-plan-tomorrow-don-t-wait/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/also-i-have-duct-tape-ordinary-duct-tape-like-you-buy-at-a-hardware/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“Oh,” Lewis said, “well if you won’t let us then— Wait…wait a minute….I’m looking at my shoulder patch and it turns out I’m the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/oh-lewis-said-well-if-you-won-t-let-us-then-wait-wait-a-minute-i-m/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [Thanks to our modern era, facts are incredibly easy to come by. A few web searches for your subject matter, and you have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/thanks-to-our-modern-era-facts-are-incredibly-easy-to-come-by-a-few/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [I started the day with some nothin’ tea. Nothin’ tea is easy to make. First, get some hot water, then add nothin’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-started-the-day-with-some-nothin-tea-nothin-tea-is-easy-to-make/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [Don't tell your stories to anyone. You'll be more motivated knowing it's a prerequisite to having an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/don-t-tell-your-stories-to-anyone-you-ll-be-more-motivated-knowing-it/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“Travel’s a bitch. Even when it’s a once-in-a-lifetime vacation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/travel-s-a-bitch-even-when-it-s-a-once-in-a-lifetime-vacation/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) > [“The overstimulated kids were literally bouncing off the walls. Lunar gravity is the worst thing to ever happen to parents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/the-overstimulated-kids-were-literally-bouncing-off-the-walls-lunar/) [Andy Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) [Explore all 198 Andy Weir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/) ## More Better things quotes > [I won't be tweeting this sunday. I have better things to do like bashing myself by following girls on streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-won-t-be-tweeting-this-sunday-i-have-better-things-to-do-like/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Sometimes you have to let things go so theres room for better things to come into your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-let-things-go-so-theres-room-for-better-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For now, I'm supposing that all movements are equal, which they're not, except in this respect: that none of them gives a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/for-now-i-m-supposing-that-all-movements-are-equal-which-they-re-not/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [“Oh, nothing. Only you really did help them, you know.” “Who?” “All the men who’ve come through this House. You helped them find their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-wecker/oh-nothing-only-you-really-did-help-them-you-know-who-all-the-men-who/) [Helene Wecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-wecker/) > [“Have fun in everything you do. Challenge yourself to bigger and better things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/have-fun-in-everything-you-do-challenge-yourself-to-bigger-and-better/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [Good things come to those who wait, Better things come to those who try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/good-things-come-to-those-who-wait-better-things-come-to-those-who-try/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Jay got up and walked to the trash to scrape off his plate, but when the trash can popped open, he stopped and reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-dell-antonia/jay-got-up-and-walked-to-the-trash-to-scrape-off-his-plate-but-when/) K.J. Dell'Antonia > [Yes?' Joe Solomon sounded like someone with far better things to do. 'Is there any homework?' she asked, and the class turned instantly from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/yes-joe-solomon-sounded-like-someone-with-far-better-things-to-do-is/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Prayers go up, blessings pour down!! God always makes a way for better things to happen, feeling blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayers-go-up-blessings-pour-down-god-always-makes-a-way-for-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Even better things are thrown off , when expected comfortableness is not acquired Painful truth is that things are replaced by hearted humans too ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iquote/even-better-things-are-thrown-off-when-expected-comfortableness-is/) [Iquote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iquote/) > [To really enjoy the better things in life, one must first have experienced the things they are better than.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oskar-homolka/to-really-enjoy-the-better-things-in-life-one-must-first-have/) Oskar Homolka > [...If our houses, or clothes, our household furniture and utensils are not works of art, they are either wretched makeshifts, or, what is worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/if-our-houses-or-clothes-our-household-furniture-and-utensils-are-not/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [You always need a bit of low-tech.You always need a pair of scissors, it seems to me. You can do better things… The high-tech,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/you-always-need-a-bit-of-low-tech-you-always-need-a-pair-of-scissors/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [“There are always far better things ahead than what we will leave behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-vonada/there-are-always-far-better-things-ahead-than-what-we-will-leave/) [Chris Vonada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-vonada/) [Browse all 442 Better things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I found a big container and put a bit of water in it, then added the dried shit. Since then, I’ve added my own shit to it as well. The worse it smells, the better things are going. That’s the bacteria at work!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andy Weir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of-water-in-it-then-added-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of-water-in-it-then-added-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/057/andy-weir-1865_better-things_i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of_3054785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I found a big container and put a bit of water in it, then added the dried shit. Since then, I’ve added my…” — Andy Weir", "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": "Andy Weir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-weir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I found a big container and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of-water-in-it-then-added-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-weir/i-found-a-big-container-and-put-a-bit-of-water-in-it-then-added-the/#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 } } ] } ```