--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing stands for content-free corporate…" description: "\"Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit quite like PowerPoint. And that's just scratching the surface...\" — Charles Stross" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png" --- # Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit quite… ![“Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit quite like PowerPoint. And that's just scratching the surface...” quote by Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png) > “Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit quite like PowerPoint. And that's just scratching the surface...” [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) ## 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 criticizes PowerPoint for delivering empty, corporate‑centric content, suggesting it masks substance. **In simple terms:** PowerPoint often hides emptiness. Key Takeaway Seek substance over style. Themes critique corporate culture communication Mood critical witty Type satirical observational When to use this quote - presentations - marketing - meeting facilitation Key Concepts media criticism business practices Questions to Reflect On - When does PowerPoint add value? - How can you improve presentation content? A Different Perspective PowerPoint can be effective when used well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) [Content Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/content-free-1955088/) [Corporate Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate-bullshit-1955085/) [Free Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-corporate-1955089/) [Like Powerpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-powerpoint-1955087/) [Powerpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerpoint/) [Powerpoint Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerpoint-just-1955086/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) ## Related quotes > [Anyone who's parading under a $100,00-plus video is not free from corporate. That's just the MTV advertising agency. I find them all to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/anyone-who-s-parading-under-a-100-00-plus-video-is-not-free-from/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [The Internet is one area that I have used pretty effectively to break free of corporate control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/the-internet-is-one-area-that-i-have-used-pretty-effectively-to-break/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [With enough libraries, all content is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/with-enough-libraries-all-content-is-free/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [Access to Internet and content should be free for users which can get accommodated by advertisements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-tewari/access-to-internet-and-content-should-be-free-for-users-which-can-get/) [Naveen Tewari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-tewari/) > [The Internet was full of sites producing content for free, in the hope that somehow they'd generate revenue from sources that never materialized, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mundie/the-internet-was-full-of-sites-producing-content-for-free-in-the-hope/) [Craig Mundie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mundie/) > [As a publisher, you should decide what content is free and what you'd pay for. You have to get the packaging right, but people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/as-a-publisher-you-should-decide-what-content-is-free-and-what-you-d/) [Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/) > [My best advice is to not start in PowerPoint. Presentation tools force you to think through information linearly, and you really need to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-duarte/my-best-advice-is-to-not-start-in-powerpoint-presentation-tools-force/) [Nancy Duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-duarte/) > [PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play - very loud, very slow, and very simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/powerpoint-presentations-too-often-resemble-a-school-play-very-loud/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [People over the age of thirty were born before the digital revolution really started. We've learned to use digital technology-laptops, cameras, personal digital assistants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/people-over-the-age-of-thirty-were-born-before-the-digital-revolution/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“Your slides should be a billboard not a document!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-jackson/your-slides-should-be-a-billboard-not-a-document/) [Lee Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-jackson/) > [The most used program in computers and education is PowerPoint. What are you learning about the nature of the medium by knowing how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-most-used-program-in-computers-and-education-is-powerpoint-what/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Launch your product or service before you have funding. See how people respond to it before you have a PowerPoint and business plan -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/launch-your-product-or-service-before-you-have-funding-see-how-people/) [Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/) > [“At the morning's PowerPoint It's full of unique bullet points”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-ratliff/at-the-morning-s-powerpoint-it-s-full-of-unique-bullet-points/) [Richard L. Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-ratliff/) > [PowerPoint doesn't kill meetings. People kill meetings. But using PowerPoint is like having a loaded AK-47 on the table: You can do very bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-norvig/powerpoint-doesn-t-kill-meetings-people-kill-meetings-but-using/) [Peter Norvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-norvig/) > [PowerPoint presentations, the cesspool of data visualization that Microsoft has visited upon the earth. PowerPoint, indeed, is a cautionary tale in our emerging data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/powerpoint-presentations-the-cesspool-of-data-visualization-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Charles Stross > [We are Bay Aryans from Berkeley: prepare to be reengineered in an attractive range of color schemes for your safety and comfort!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/we-are-bay-aryans-from-berkeley-prepare-to-be-reengineered-in-an/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Shut up. Stand up. Put this on. That’s right . . . if you were the kind of man who found it easy to do that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/shut-up-stand-up-put-this-on-that-s-right-if-you-were-the-kind-of-man/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Generating ideas isn't some mystical talent that you have to be born with: it's a skill you can develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/generating-ideas-isn-t-some-mystical-talent-that-you-have-to-be-born/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Any replacement to the current copyright position (life plus 70 years) needs to have an answer lined up for this, and similar, messy edge cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/any-replacement-to-the-current-copyright-position-life-plus-70-years/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Time is a corrosive fluid, dissolving motivation, destroying novelty, and leaching the joy from life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/time-is-a-corrosive-fluid-dissolving-motivation-destroying-novelty/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“- Toma un puro, Sherlock. - Lo siento; sólo echo humo cuando me enchufan a la red eléctrica.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/toma-un-puro-sherlock-lo-siento-s-lo-echo-humo-cuando-me-enchufan-a/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I have no policy, for or against: only a personal style. Which is to say, I use them when I think it's appropriate to;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-have-no-policy-for-or-against-only-a-personal-style-which-is-to-say/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“To boldly go where no uploaded metahuman colony has gone before”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/to-boldly-go-where-no-uploaded-metahuman-colony-has-gone-before/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I was raised thinking that moral and ethical standards are universals that apply equally to everyone. And these values aren't easily compatible with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-was-raised-thinking-that-moral-and-ethical-standards-are-universals/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [I don't like Amazon (wearing my author hat, not my customer hat).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/i-don-t-like-amazon-wearing-my-author-hat-not-my-customer-hat/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Some say the Internet is for porn but you know that in truth the Internet is for spam.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/some-say-the-internet-is-for-porn-but-you-know-that-in-truth-the/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [If I forget, then it might as well never have happened. Memory is liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-i-forget-then-it-might-as-well-never-have-happened-memory-is/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“If he wakes the ancient sleeping horrors I am going to have to brief the private secretary and the Joint Intelligence Oversight Committee so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-he-wakes-the-ancient-sleeping-horrors-i-am-going-to-have-to-brief/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Crawling eldritch horrors don’t get planning permission unless they’re Trump’s hairpiece.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/crawling-eldritch-horrors-don-t-get-planning-permission-unless-they/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“A historian who works for a bank: That’s not the most likely background for someone who capers around the cosmos having adventures, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/a-historian-who-works-for-a-bank-that-s-not-the-most-likely/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) [Explore all 331 Charles Stross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) ## More Bullshit quotes > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [Yesterday's truth is today's bullshit. Even yesterday's liberating insight is today's jail of stale explanation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-blanton/yesterday-s-truth-is-today-s-bullshit-even-yesterday-s-liberating/) [Brad Blanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-blanton/) > [The one thing I absolutely hate about social media are the people who abuse it. Whenever I see a person who constantly posts negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmin-garcia/the-one-thing-i-absolutely-hate-about-social-media-are-the-people-who/) [Jazmin Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmin-garcia/) > [My biggest advice would be to take the pictures you want to take. Don’t think about the marketplace, what sells or what an editor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/my-biggest-advice-would-be-to-take-the-pictures-you-want-to-take-don/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [We're at a time when we are being presented with undeniable changes in the global climate and fundamental issues that affect every single one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/we-re-at-a-time-when-we-are-being-presented-with-undeniable-changes/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [“Someday you’re gonna go stupid for a woman. And when you do, do me this one favor: don’t get all caught up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/someday-you-re-gonna-go-stupid-for-a-woman-and-when-you-do-do-me-this/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [How can I set free anyone who doesn't have the guts to stand up alone and declare his own freedom? I think it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/how-can-i-set-free-anyone-who-doesn-t-have-the-guts-to-stand-up-alone/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [“Please, boy. Let’s not start out with either of us insulting the other’s intelligence. There are only three people in life you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/please-boy-let-s-not-start-out-with-either-of-us-insulting-the-other/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [The idea of photography as evidence is pure bullshit. A photo is no more proof of any reality than what you may hear being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-riboud/the-idea-of-photography-as-evidence-is-pure-bullshit-a-photo-is-no/) [Marc Riboud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-riboud/) > [“(‘T) is all that separates I CAN’T from I CAN. Cut away the bullshit and live your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/t-is-all-that-separates-i-can-t-from-i-can-cut-away-the-bullshit-and/) [Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/) > [I wouldn't mind gigging around the same era as Jesus, after he gives his speech about the meek and how blessed they are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-wouldn-t-mind-gigging-around-the-same-era-as-jesus-after-he-gives/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Alright, thats enough of this Kung-Fu bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcclane/alright-thats-enough-of-this-kung-fu-bullshit/) [John Mcclane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcclane/) > [“To recognize bullshit, nose is better than ear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/to-recognize-bullshit-nose-is-better-than-ear/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Loyal people always seem to go through the most bullshit!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/loyal-people-always-seem-to-go-through-the-most-bullshit/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“I wasn't sure which was worse - to know you were a liar or to believe your own bullshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/i-wasn-t-sure-which-was-worse-to-know-you-were-a-liar-or-to-believe/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) [Browse all 1,074 Bullshit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullshit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit quite like PowerPoint. And that's just scratching the surface...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Stross" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporate-bullshit-quite-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bullshit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporate-bullshit-quite-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ff/charles-stross-896_bullshit_nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporat_1791992.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit quite like PowerPoint. And that's just scratching the…” — Charles Stross", "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": "Charles Stross", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing stands for content-free corporate bullshit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporate-bullshit-quite-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/nothing-stands-for-content-free-corporate-bullshit-quite-like/#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 } } ] } ```