--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow…" description: "\"“Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow your geekdom. Embrace nerditude. In the immortal words of Lafcadio Hearn, a geek of incredible obscurity whos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/bruce-sterling-3596_geek_forget-trying-to-pass-for-normal-follow_399673.png" --- # Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow your geekdom… ![“Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow your geekdom. Embrace nerditude. In the immortal words of Lafcadio Hearn, a geek of incredible obscurity whose work is still in print after a hundred years, “Woo the muse of the odd.” You may be a geek. You may have geek written all over you. You should aim…” quote by Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/bruce-sterling-3596_geek_forget-trying-to-pass-for-normal-follow_399673.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/bruce-sterling-3596_geek_forget-trying-to-pass-for-normal-follow_399673.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/bruce-sterling-3596_geek_forget-trying-to-pass-for-normal-follow_399673.png) > ““Forget trying to pass for normal. Follow your geekdom. Embrace nerditude. In the immortal words of Lafcadio Hearn, a geek of incredible obscurity whose work is still in print after a hundred years, “Woo the muse of the odd.” You may be a geek. You may have geek written all over you. You should aim to be one geek they'll never forget. Don't aim to be civilized. Don’t hope that straight people will keep you on as some sort of pet. To hell with them. You should fully realize what society has made of you and take a terrible revenge. Get weird. Get way weird. Get dangerously weird. Get sophisticatedly, thoroughly weird, and don't do it halfway. Put every ounce of horsepower you have behind it. Don't become a well-rounded person. Well-rounded people are smooth and dull. Become a thoroughly spiky person. Grow spikes from every angle. Stick in their throats like a pufferfish.”” [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embrace your unique, unconventional self fully, rejecting societal pressure to conform, and channel that distinctiveness into powerful, unapologetic creativity. **In simple terms:** Be unapologetically different and creative. Key Takeaway Own your oddness completely. Themes individualism creativity nonconformity authenticity rebellion Mood defiant energetic provocative Type manifesto inspirational When to use this quote - artistic projects - tech innovation - personal branding - social activism - alternative careers Key Concepts Identity self‑expression cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance authenticity with healthy relationships? - What risks arise from rejecting all norms? A Different Perspective Extreme nonconformity may isolate you or limit collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Geek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geek/) ## Related quotes > [You may be a geek. You may have geek written all over you. You should aim to be the geek they will never forget.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/you-may-be-a-geek-you-may-have-geek-written-all-over-you-you-should/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Hackers are arrogant geek romantics. They lack the attentive spirit of inquiry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/hackers-are-arrogant-geek-romantics-they-lack-the-attentive-spirit-of/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. I've been, like, an Apple geek my whole life and have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-read-the-steve-jobs-book-and-that-kind-of-changed-everything-i-ve/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [I was a big sci-fi fantasy geek when I was younger... secretly, in my room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-was-a-big-sci-fi-fantasy-geek-when-i-was-younger-secretly-in-my-room/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I'm a nerd. Total geek. I never went to homecoming or prom or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-m-a-nerd-total-geek-i-never-went-to-homecoming-or-prom-or-anything/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I am a geek. I am an otaku.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masi-oka/i-am-a-geek-i-am-an-otaku/) [Masi Oka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masi-oka/) > [I'm a serious geek. I mean I seriously want to own a unicorn when I'm older . . . or a Pegasus . . . yeah Pegasus sounds better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-m-a-serious-geek-i-mean-i-seriously-want-to-own-a-unicorn-when-i-m/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [Yeah, I'm a geek. I read sci-fi and I watch sci-fi films. I love my computer and I love to fix it. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/yeah-i-m-a-geek-i-read-sci-fi-and-i-watch-sci-fi-films-i-love-my/) [Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/) > [Going to UCLA, as far as I'm concerned, afforded me two things. One was the advantage of meeting friends and getting to know a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/going-to-ucla-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-afforded-me-two-things-one-was/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [“You’re the witch, dude.  I’m the data geek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debora-geary/you-re-the-witch-dude-i-m-the-data-geek/) [Debora Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debora-geary/) > [Being a geek is extremely liberating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/being-a-geek-is-extremely-liberating/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [I cant believe I just gave my panties to a geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixteen-candles/i-cant-believe-i-just-gave-my-panties-to-a-geek/) Sixteen Candles > [“Holy hell, Trev! What kind of move was that?” Trevor leaned over her with a big smile on his face. “You really thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-aubrey-chris-almeida/holy-hell-trev-what-kind-of-move-was-that-trevor-leaned-over-her-with/) Cecilia Aubrey & Chris Almeida ## More by Bruce Sterling > [They used to be seen as insane or unthinkable acts of madmen. But if they take place they'll be called 'war' too. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/they-used-to-be-seen-as-insane-or-unthinkable-acts-of-madmen-but-if/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“You give a guy a license to steal, you've got to expect him to use it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/you-give-a-guy-a-license-to-steal-you-ve-got-to-expect-him-to-use-it/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“America hadn't really been suited for its long and tiresome role as the Last Superpower, the World's Policeman. As a patriotic American, Oscar was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/america-hadn-t-really-been-suited-for-its-long-and-tiresome-role-as/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [“But the economy's out of control. Money just doesn't need human beings anymore. Most of us only get in the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/but-the-economy-s-out-of-control-money-just-doesn-t-need-human-beings/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [It's going to be really interesting to see what the heroin market does in the next two years or so. One thing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/it-s-going-to-be-really-interesting-to-see-what-the-heroin-market/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Information wants you to give me a dollar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/information-wants-you-to-give-me-a-dollar/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Architects thrive after massive urban disasters. The abject collapse of East Berlin gave us the only city in Europe with a mighty host of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/architects-thrive-after-massive-urban-disasters-the-abject-collapse/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Information wants to be free. Believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/information-wants-to-be-free-believe-it/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [The internet brought many laudable things, but prosperity, stability, accountability and honest politics were not four of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/the-internet-brought-many-laudable-things-but-prosperity-stability/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I was once a student in a punk T-Shirt hooked on screwed-up scenarios. That's how I became the esteemed cultural figure that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-was-once-a-student-in-a-punk-t-shirt-hooked-on-screwed-up-scenarios/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [ “If America suffers from drugs, perhaps you should ask what America is lacking, \[“What an asshole,”\] Eric King commented suddenly. They ignored him.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/if-america-suffers-from-drugs-perhaps-you-should-ask-what-america-is/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I like to get paid for doing basic research, so it's pleasant to write some nonfiction about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-like-to-get-paid-for-doing-basic-research-so-it-s-pleasant-to-write/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Find a client and get a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/find-a-client-and-get-a-job/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [I wouldn't describe that "position" as "parasitic." I'd describe that experience as "edifying." I don't merely write from a critical intellectual distance. I actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/i-wouldn-t-describe-that-position-as-parasitic-i-d-describe-that/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [Every passing year brings us more past futures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/every-passing-year-brings-us-more-past-futures/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) [Explore all 126 Bruce Sterling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) ## More Geek quotes > [“Holy hell, Trev! What kind of move was that?” Trevor leaned over her with a big smile on his face. “You really thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-aubrey-chris-almeida/holy-hell-trev-what-kind-of-move-was-that-trevor-leaned-over-her-with/) Cecilia Aubrey & Chris Almeida > [I cant believe I just gave my panties to a geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixteen-candles/i-cant-believe-i-just-gave-my-panties-to-a-geek/) Sixteen Candles > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [Being a geek is extremely liberating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-pegg/being-a-geek-is-extremely-liberating/) [Simon Pegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-pegg/) > [“You’re the witch, dude.  I’m the data geek. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debora-geary/you-re-the-witch-dude-i-m-the-data-geek/) [Debora Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debora-geary/) > [Going to UCLA, as far as I'm concerned, afforded me two things. One was the advantage of meeting friends and getting to know a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/going-to-ucla-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-afforded-me-two-things-one-was/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [Yeah, I'm a geek. I read sci-fi and I watch sci-fi films. I love my computer and I love to fix it. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/yeah-i-m-a-geek-i-read-sci-fi-and-i-watch-sci-fi-films-i-love-my/) [Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/) > [I'm a serious geek. I mean I seriously want to own a unicorn when I'm older . . . or a Pegasus . . . yeah Pegasus sounds better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-m-a-serious-geek-i-mean-i-seriously-want-to-own-a-unicorn-when-i-m/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [I am a geek. I am an otaku.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masi-oka/i-am-a-geek-i-am-an-otaku/) [Masi Oka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masi-oka/) > [I'm a nerd. Total geek. I never went to homecoming or prom or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-m-a-nerd-total-geek-i-never-went-to-homecoming-or-prom-or-anything/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I was a big sci-fi fantasy geek when I was younger... secretly, in my room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-was-a-big-sci-fi-fantasy-geek-when-i-was-younger-secretly-in-my-room/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. I've been, like, an Apple geek my whole life and have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-read-the-steve-jobs-book-and-that-kind-of-changed-everything-i-ve/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I was a geek in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/i-was-a-geek-in-high-school/) [David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/) > [My characters are all kind of geek archetypes of people I've encountered at gaming and comic book conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/my-characters-are-all-kind-of-geek-archetypes-of-people-i-ve/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) [Browse all 614 Geek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geek/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Forget trying to pass for normal. 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