--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well,” her mother said, looking at the…" description: "\"“Well,” her mother said, looking at the engine, “at least that’s still there.” \"Do you know anything about engines?\" Stephanie asked. \"That’s why I hav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/derek-landy-826_engines_well-her-mother-said-looking-at-the-engi_470849.png" --- # Well,” her mother said, looking at the engine, “at least… ![“Well,” her mother said, looking at the engine, “at least that’s still there.” "Do you know anything about engines?" Stephanie asked. "That’s why I have a husband, so I don't have to. Engines and shelves, that’s why men were invented." Stephanie made a mental note to learn about engines before she…” quote by Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/derek-landy-826_engines_well-her-mother-said-looking-at-the-engi_470849.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/derek-landy-826_engines_well-her-mother-said-looking-at-the-engi_470849.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/derek-landy-826_engines_well-her-mother-said-looking-at-the-engi_470849.png) > ““Well,” her mother said, looking at the engine, “at least that’s still there.” "Do you know anything about engines?" Stephanie asked. "That’s why I have a husband, so I don't have to. Engines and shelves, that’s why men were invented." Stephanie made a mental note to learn about engines before she turned eighteen. She wasn't too fussed about the shelves.”” [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often rely on others for tasks they should learn themselves, using excuses to avoid responsibility. **In simple terms:** Avoiding learning leads to dependence. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your own knowledge. Themes responsibility learning dependency Mood reflective lighthearted Type narrative conversational When to use this quote - education - career planning - personal growth Key Concepts self‑reliance humor Questions to Reflect On - What task are you avoiding? - How can you become self‑sufficient? A Different Perspective Excuses can hinder personal development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines/) [Engines Stephanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engines-stephanie-1169359/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Know Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-engines-4070858/) [Learn Engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-engines-4070857/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Mother Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-said/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Stephanie Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephanie-asked-1169360/) ## Related quotes > [“Well,” her mother said, looking at the engine, “at least that’s still there.” “Do you know anything about engines?” Stephanie asked. “That’s why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/well-her-mother-said-looking-at-the-engine-at-least-that-s-still-2/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [He does this on purpose," Stephanie's mother said as they sat in the car, seat belts on and ready to go. 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"Because we're rich in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/we-aren-t-poor-my-mother-said-again-and-again-because-we-re-rich-in/) [Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/) > [I'm very glad my mother didn't let me quit piano lessons at age 10. She said I wasn't old enough or good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-glad-my-mother-didn-t-let-me-quit-piano-lessons-at-age-10/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [“Clare could bear this no longer. His eyes were full of tears, which seemed like drops of molten lead. He bade a quick good-night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/clare-could-bear-this-no-longer-his-eyes-were-full-of-tears-which/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [“I am not certain that Lord Carson and I will suit one another." 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He had never called her mother, not in his whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-minor/your-shoes-mother-he-said-he-had-never-called-her-mother-not-in-his/) [Kyle Minor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-minor/) ## More by Derek Landy > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“strike from the shadows, disapear into darkness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/strike-from-the-shadows-disapear-into-darkness/) [derek landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“But if you can confront your inner demons—" "I did confront my inner demon. I punched him in the face and he exploded." Valkyrie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/but-if-you-can-confront-your-inner-demons-i-did-confront-my-inner/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“What does a clue look like?" Tanith whispered. Stephanie fought the giggle down and whispered back. "I'm looking for a footprint or something." "Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-does-a-clue-look-like-tanith-whispered-stephanie-fought-the/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He took her hand in his and knelt before her. Valkyrie looked at him. He was serious. (...)'Dude, I'm sixteen.' 'I love you.' 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-took-her-hand-in-his-and-knelt-before-her-valkyrie-looked-at-him/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [What?" she asked again. He pointed ahead of them. "See that?" "What, the snow?" "Beyond that." "More snow?" "Stop looking at the snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-she-asked-again-he-pointed-ahead-of-them-see-that-what-the-snow/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-baron-unfortunately-turns-it-all-the-way-up-to-eleven-seriously/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Valkyrie walked over to her. Since she had met her, all she'd wanted to do was punch her face in. But that was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/valkyrie-walked-over-to-her-since-she-had-met-her-all-she-d-wanted-to/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“I've always been a monster,' Scapegrace told her, 'but now, finally, my physical for reflects my inner darkness.' 'You smell terrible.' 'That's the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-ve-always-been-a-monster-scapegrace-told-her-but-now-finally-my/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/of-course-i-want-to-kill-you-said-skulduggery-i-want-to-kill-most/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [We don’t need a cure,” the other zombie said. “That’s right,” Scapegrace nodded. “We’re happy the way we are.” “Happy with the power,” Scapegrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/we-don-t-need-a-cure-the-other-zombie-said-that-s-right-scapegrace/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) [Explore all 355 Derek Landy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## More Engines quotes > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [Honor commerce as the engine of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcdonough/honor-commerce-as-the-engine-of-change/) [William McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mcdonough/) > [I never wanted to do away with my intensity because I felt it was a gift that helped put fuel in my engine, giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-meyer/i-never-wanted-to-do-away-with-my-intensity-because-i-felt-it-was-a/) [Paul J. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-meyer/) > [As American productivity, once the exuberant engine of national wealth, has dipped to an embarrassingly uncompetitive low, Americans have shaken their heads: the country's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-morrow/as-american-productivity-once-the-exuberant-engine-of-national-wealth/) [Lance Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-morrow/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [ Brian Mulroney, myself, \[and\] Rajiv Gandhi; I think that was the real core \[of the Commonwealth \]. That was the engine room, I reckon. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/brian-mulroney-myself-and-rajiv-gandhi-i-think-that-was-the-real-core/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [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/) > [This is mankind's destiny, the engine with fuels us as a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-finch/this-is-mankind-s-destiny-the-engine-with-fuels-us-as-a-race/) [Janet Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-finch/) > [Social and cultural change, however desirable, should not be effected by the engines of national power. Let us, through persuasion and education, seek to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/social-and-cultural-change-however-desirable-should-not-be-effected/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [The whole of the developments and operations of analysis are now capable of being executed by machinery ... 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Engines and shelves, that’s why men were invented.\" Stephanie made a mental note to learn about engines before she turned eighteen. 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