--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to imagine that the world is one…" description: "\"I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b2/brian-selznick-9443_big-mac_i-like-to-imagine-that-the-world-is-one_1656838.jpg" --- # I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You… ![“I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.” quote by Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b2/brian-selznick-9443_big-mac_i-like-to-imagine-that-the-world-is-one_1656838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b2/brian-selznick-9443_big-mac_i-like-to-imagine-that-the-world-is-one_1656838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b2/brian-selznick-9443_big-mac_i-like-to-imagine-that-the-world-is-one_1656838.jpg) > “I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.” [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote likens the world to a precisely engineered machine where every component has a purpose, suggesting personal existence is intentional. **In simple terms:** The world is a perfect machine; we each have a reason to be here. Key Takeaway Recognize your role and act with purpose. Themes purpose interconnectedness existence meaning Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - team projects - community involvement - personal growth Key Concepts systems theory determinism human agency Questions to Reflect On - What role do you feel you were designed to play? - How does seeing the world as a machine affect your choices? A Different Perspective Assumes a deterministic view that may ignore randomness or free will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mac/) [Big Machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-machine-713953/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Extras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extras/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagine that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine-that/) [Machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine/) [Machine Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine-reason-713952/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Machines Extra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines-extra-713954/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes I come up here at night...just to look at the city. I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/sometimes-i-come-up-here-at-night-just-to-look-at-the-city-i-like-to/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Sometimes I come up here at night, even when I'm not fixing the clocks, just to look at the city. I like to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/sometimes-i-come-up-here-at-night-even-when-i-m-not-fixing-the-clocks/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [Being signed to a major label, it's a big machine behind you. There are so many people that are working to push the record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina/being-signed-to-a-major-label-it-s-a-big-machine-behind-you-there-are/) [Trina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina/) > [Once Miramax gets involved, if they like your movie, there's a big machine that gets involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wilkinson/once-miramax-gets-involved-if-they-like-your-movie-there-s-a-big/) [Tom Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wilkinson/) > [Like everything at Big Machine Label Group, the music comes out when it's ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/like-everything-at-big-machine-label-group-the-music-comes-out-when/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [We decided when we were building Big Machine that we wanted to be a Harley or a Ferrari.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/we-decided-when-we-were-building-big-machine-that-we-wanted-to-be-a/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [Auto racing has been a big part of my life since I was very young. When the car feels right, it's like, 'We've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/auto-racing-has-been-a-big-part-of-my-life-since-i-was-very-young/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [The Big Machine Label Group will continue to knock down doors to break female talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/the-big-machine-label-group-will-continue-to-knock-down-doors-to/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [“I’d imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-cabret/i-d-imagine-the-whole-world-was-one-big-machine-machines-never-come/) [Hugo Cabret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-cabret/) > [The universe looks less like a big machine than a big thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-radin/the-universe-looks-less-like-a-big-machine-than-a-big-thought/) [Dean Radin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-radin/) > [Music is a big machine that would go on with or without me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-thomas/music-is-a-big-machine-that-would-go-on-with-or-without-me/) [Rob Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-thomas/) > [Ecstasy is all you need living in the big machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goo-goo-dolls/ecstasy-is-all-you-need-living-in-the-big-machine/) [Goo Goo Dolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goo-goo-dolls/) > [With the launch of Big Machine Premium Vodka, we are now offering a superior product that perfectly complements the music we take such great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/with-the-launch-of-big-machine-premium-vodka-we-are-now-offering-a/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [There are a lot of similarities, even though we're in two different businesses: There's the Taylor Swift business and the Big Machine Label Group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/there-are-a-lot-of-similarities-even-though-we-re-in-two-different/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) > [We have a mantra at the Big Machine Label Group: Start with crazy and work backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-borchetta/we-have-a-mantra-at-the-big-machine-label-group-start-with-crazy-and/) [Scott Borchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-borchetta/) ## More by Brian Selznick > [It's fun to see how other artists adapt my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/it-s-fun-to-see-how-other-artists-adapt-my-work/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Then you know Prometheus was rescued in the end. His chains were broken, and he was finally set free." The old man squinted one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/then-you-know-prometheus-was-rescued-in-the-end-his-chains-were/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [I've always loved children's books - it's not that I didn't like them, I just didn't think I wanted to do that. But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/i-ve-always-loved-children-s-books-it-s-not-that-i-didn-t-like-them-i/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [A lot of people who don't write for kids think it's easy, because they think kids aren't as smart as they are, or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/a-lot-of-people-who-don-t-write-for-kids-think-it-s-easy-because-they/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“That night, cold and alone, Joseph had thought he'd found a portal into the past. But he'd been wrong. It was a vision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/that-night-cold-and-alone-joseph-had-thought-he-d-found-a-portal-into/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [Once I'm given an idea for a story I have a million ideas on how it should be illustrated, but I don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/once-i-m-given-an-idea-for-a-story-i-have-a-million-ideas-on-how-it/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Time can play all sorts of tricks on you. In the blink of an eye, babies appear in carriages, coffins disappear into the ground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/time-can-play-all-sorts-of-tricks-on-you-in-the-blink-of-an-eye/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Did you ever notice that all machines are made for some reason? … They are built to make you laugh, like the mouse here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/did-you-ever-notice-that-all-machines-are-made-for-some-reason-they/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [I address you all tonight for who you truly are: wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, and magicians. You are the true dreamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/i-address-you-all-tonight-for-who-you-truly-are-wizards-mermaids/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [I've been taking art lessons since I was little, and I've always drawn. I think in pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/i-ve-been-taking-art-lessons-since-i-was-little-and-i-ve-always-drawn/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [What interests me about clocks is that everything is hand-made, and yet to the person looking at the clock, something magical is happening that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/what-interests-me-about-clocks-is-that-everything-is-hand-made-and/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from when you go to sleep at night, just look around. This is where they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/if-you-ve-ever-wondered-where-your-dreams-come-from-when-you-go-to/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [“Yes, I've been trying to tell all night to tell you,' said the bat. 'But you wouldn't stop fighting me. It was very annoying.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/yes-i-ve-been-trying-to-tell-all-night-to-tell-you-said-the-bat-but/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [I think I always knew that I would do something with art because it was the one thing that I knew I was really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/i-think-i-always-knew-that-i-would-do-something-with-art-because-it/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) > [I think everything belongs in a certain place, for kids who feel they don't belong anywhere. A museum is an institution like a library…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-selznick/i-think-everything-belongs-in-a-certain-place-for-kids-who-feel-they/) [Brian Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) [Explore all 65 Brian Selznick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-selznick/) ## More Big mac quotes > [“It’s crowded today, the day before the big macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and people are filling up the tunnel like lemmings or cockroaches running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-crowded-today-the-day-before-the-big-macy-s-thanksgiving-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jaden: "Dude, you've found something wrong with every girl. I'm about to play this one solo if you can't make up your mind." Bastian:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyrae-dawn/jaden-dude-you-ve-found-something-wrong-with-every-girl-i-m-about-to/) [Nyrae Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyrae-dawn/) > [Because you're fat, you feel that everybody's watching every bite you take. So, you closet-eat, and you think because nobody sees you eating, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/because-you-re-fat-you-feel-that-everybody-s-watching-every-bite-you/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/doubt-is-the-big-machine-it-grinds-up-the-delusions-of-women-and-men/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [AS y'all know I'm going for 15 days or so for travelling , so yeah :( You GUYS are my hole-digging, browser-history-erasing, funeral-invitation-only assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila/as-y-all-know-i-m-going-for-15-days-or-so-for-travelling-so-yeah-you/) [Leila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila/) > [“Strangest of all, we’ve convinced ourselves that our health has nothing to do with what we eat. People who will spend that extra 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/strangest-of-all-we-ve-convinced-ourselves-that-our-health-has/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [That awkward moment when your in the drive-through and you ask for a Big Mac,then you realize your at Taco Bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-simmons/that-awkward-moment-when-your-in-the-drive-through-and-you-ask-for-a/) [Scar Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-simmons/) > [“They don't go into what is the cause of goodness, so why of the other shop? If lewdies are good that's because they like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/they-don-t-go-into-what-is-the-cause-of-goodness-so-why-of-the-other/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“That moment, when you first lay eyes on that field — The Monster, the triangle, the scoreboard, the light tower Big Mac bashed, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-stark/that-moment-when-you-first-lay-eyes-on-that-field-the-monster-the/) [Jayson Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-stark/) > [ You know Chuck \[Schumer\] - always got to be the big macher. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-chuck-schumer-always-got-to-be-the-big-macher/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-am-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-big-mac-and-fries/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Just because there's snow on the roof doesn't mean the fire's out, son”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/just-because-there-s-snow-on-the-roof-doesn-t-mean-the-fire-s-out-son/) [Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/) > [In general, I try to eat food without added hormones and pesticides, but I'm not so strict that I won't have a Big Mac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-peregrym/in-general-i-try-to-eat-food-without-added-hormones-and-pesticides/) [Missy Peregrym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-peregrym/) > [“Afterwards, we don’t head straight back to work. Instead, we stop at McDonald’s. Kristy gets a Happy Meal. Cora gets like four pies, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-johnson/afterwards-we-don-t-head-straight-back-to-work-instead-we-stop-at/) [Hannah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-johnson/) > [When McDonald's opened up in Moscow - I happened to be there when it opened and wandered in. And the Russians were queuing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/when-mcdonald-s-opened-up-in-moscow-i-happened-to-be-there-when-it/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) [Browse all 143 Big mac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mac/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. 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