---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's just one thing after another. Cars…"
description: "\"It's just one thing after another. Cars that won't run. Planes that will never fly again. Computer systems we can barely use, let alone re-create. It's..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png"
---

#  It's just one thing after another. Cars that won't run…

![“It's just one thing after another. Cars that won't run. Planes that will never fly again. Computer systems we can barely use, let alone re-create. It's like...time is flowing backward. We're caveman archeologists in the ruins of the future.” quote by Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png)

> “It's just one thing after another. Cars that won't run. Planes that will never fly again. Computer systems we can barely use, let alone re-create. It's like...time is flowing backward. We're caveman archeologists in the ruins of the future.”

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

## About This Quote

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

Life feels chaotic, with systems failing and progress seeming reversed, leaving us feeling like primitive explorers in a future that is already broken.

**In simple terms:** Life feels chaotic and backward.

Key Takeaway

Adapt and find meaning amid disorder.

Themes

chaos technology disorientation

Mood

anxious thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- modern life
- technology failures
- future anxiety

Key Concepts

existential dread adaptation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you stay grounded when everything feels broken?
- What can you control in a chaotic world?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may exaggerate normal frustrations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Backward Caveman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backward-caveman-1144665/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Caveman Archeologists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caveman-archeologists-1144667/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Ruins Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins-future-1144666/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Systems Barely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systems-barely-4577160/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/)

## Related quotes

> [It's like . . . time is flowing backward. We're caveman archeologists in the ruins of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/it-s-like-time-is-flowing-backward-we-re-caveman-archeologists-in-the/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Worry doesn't improve the future,it only ruins the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worry-doesn-t-improve-the-future-it-only-ruins-the-future/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It is sometimes of God's mercy that men in the eager pursuit of worldly aggrandizement are baffled; for they are very like a train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-sometimes-of-god-s-mercy-that-men-in-the-eager-pursuit-of/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [I got Michael Caine's book, Acting In Film, and I read it on the plane, desperately trying to glean information from him about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-got-michael-caine-s-book-acting-in-film-and-i-read-it-on-the-plane/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [Just hopped off the plane came back from Vancouv Little white tee sum boobs &amp; bamboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/just-hopped-off-the-plane-came-back-from-vancouv-little-white-tee-sum/)

[Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/)

> [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/)

[Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/)

> [When you put more than a million kids in school, you take a plane today and go to Haiti, you cannot see the results.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martelly/when-you-put-more-than-a-million-kids-in-school-you-take-a-plane/)

[Michel Martelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martelly/)

> [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [Other things being equal, it is the person who can lift his work up to the plane of the intuitional and inspiration who achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanwood-cobb/other-things-being-equal-it-is-the-person-who-can-lift-his-work-up-to/)

[Stanwood Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanwood-cobb/)

> [She watched the prairies the rivers, the towns slipping past at an untouchable distance below - and she noted that the sense of detachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/she-watched-the-prairies-the-rivers-the-towns-slipping-past-at-an/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [I always step on the plane with my right foot and touch the outside of the plane with my left hand. Sometimes you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-davis/i-always-step-on-the-plane-with-my-right-foot-and-touch-the-outside/)

[Hope Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-davis/)

## More by Dan Wells

> [“I’ve picked a side,” she said darkly. “And everyone’s on it. And that’s exactly who I’m going to save.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-ve-picked-a-side-she-said-darkly-and-everyone-s-on-it-and-that-s/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-that-was-horrifying-i-was/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“You're talking to me and I'm not scary." Said Kira. "Yes you are!" said Afa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/you-re-talking-to-me-and-i-m-not-scary-said-kira-yes-you-are-said-afa/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“Curing RM is in the realm of magical pixies and talking dogs that piss whiskey. It's impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/curing-rm-is-in-the-realm-of-magical-pixies-and-talking-dogs-that/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“She thought no one could see her. I thought she was beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/she-thought-no-one-could-see-her-i-thought-she-was-beautiful/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Facts are too busy being true to worry about how you feel about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/facts-are-too-busy-being-true-to-worry-about-how-you-feel-about-them/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [My wit is like your legs," said Xochi. " It would be selfish of me to keep it hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/my-wit-is-like-your-legs-said-xochi-it-would-be-selfish-of-me-to-keep/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“If you can’t know the truth,” said Isolde, “live the most awesome lie you can think of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/if-you-can-t-know-the-truth-said-isolde-live-the-most-awesome-lie-you/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“Skousen remembered a world falling apart. Kira remembered a world pulling together to save itself. That was the difference. That was why Skousen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/skousen-remembered-a-world-falling-apart-kira-remembered-a-world/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“Finally Marcus stepped forward. "If you insist on going through me to get him, it's your call. But I warn you, I will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/finally-marcus-stepped-forward-if-you-insist-on-going-through-me-to/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“We're taking you to the hospital,' it said, 'you're going into shock. Can you tell us how you feel?' 'I feel ...' What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/we-re-taking-you-to-the-hospital-it-said-you-re-going-into-shock-can/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [I stared at her closely, studying her face, her eyes, everything. This was the angel that tamed a demon; the soul that trapped him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-stared-at-her-closely-studying-her-face-her-eyes-everything-this/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [“So, your plan is to murder a superior enemy army," said Tovar, "and then outrun the wind. I'm glad it's so simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/so-your-plan-is-to-murder-a-superior-enemy-army-said-tovar-and-then/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

> [Love's not the point. We just do what we always do, and we get by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/love-s-not-the-point-we-just-do-what-we-always-do-and-we-get-by/)

[Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

[Explore all 175 Dan Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/)

## More Car quotes

> [If you restore a car, and you're making money, then you're doing it wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/if-you-restore-a-car-and-you-re-making-money-then-you-re-doing-it/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [I don't own a yacht or a flashy car. I've always had safe cars because I do so much driving. I don't think I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-don-t-own-a-yacht-or-a-flashy-car-i-ve-always-had-safe-cars-because/)

[Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/)

> [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/)

[Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/)

> [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/)

[Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/)

> [I was with Dre when he was just selling tapes. He didn't have a car, a license or a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-was-with-dre-when-he-was-just-selling-tapes-he-didn-t-have-a-car-a/)

[Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/)

> ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. Before I got out of the car he said, 'They're scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/melanin-man-was-inspired-by-the-words-of-an-uber-driver-in-l-a-before/)

[Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/)

> [The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us. The nonstories. The extra minute to find the briefcase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-things-that-don-t-happen-to-us-that-we-ll-never-know-didn-t/)

[Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/)

> [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/)

[Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [I don't have to have the biggest house or the biggest car or the longest mink, but quality of life is really glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-don-t-have-to-have-the-biggest-house-or-the-biggest-car-or-the/)

[Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/)

[Browse all 6,849 Car quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's just one thing after another. Cars that won't run. Planes that will never fly again. Computer systems we can barely use, let alone re-create. It's like...time is flowing backward. We're caveman archeologists in the ruins of the future.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Wells"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-that-won-t-run-planes-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Car"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-that-won-t-run-planes-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/dan-wells-2142_car_it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-t_1348431.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's just one thing after another. Cars that won't run. Planes that will never fly again. Computer systems…” — Dan Wells",
                "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": "Dan Wells",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's just one thing after another....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-that-won-t-run-planes-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/it-s-just-one-thing-after-another-cars-that-won-t-run-planes-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
