--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Email is a wonderful thing for those…" description: "\"Email is a wonderful thing for those people whose role in life is to be on top of things, but not for me: my role is to be on the bottom of things.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg" --- # Email is a wonderful thing for those people whose role in… ![“Email is a wonderful thing for those people whose role in life is to be on top of things, but not for me: my role is to be on the bottom of things.” quote by Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg) > “Email is a wonderful thing for those people whose role in life is to be on top of things, but not for me: my role is to be on the bottom of things.” [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Email suits those who manage many tasks, but not those who prefer a low‑profile role. **In simple terms:** Email fits high‑task roles, not low‑profile ones. Key Takeaway Choose communication tools that match your work style. Themes productivity communication role fit Mood practical reflective Type advice commentary When to use this quote - project management - remote work - personal organization Key Concepts information overload workflow optimization Questions to Reflect On - How can you manage communication overload? - What alternatives suit your role? A Different Perspective Overreliance on email can cause distraction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [Email is a wonderful thing for people whose role in life is to be on top of things. But not for me; my role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-people-whose-role-in-life-is-to-be-on/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [It's one of the things, certainly for me, anyway: I'm learning to take a bigger role in the things that I'm associated with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/it-s-one-of-the-things-certainly-for-me-anyway-i-m-learning-to-take-a/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) > [When I pick a role, one of the things that I aspire to is that somebody's parent will come up to me after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/when-i-pick-a-role-one-of-the-things-that-i-aspire-to-is-that/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [People that are really smart and that can learn new things can almost always find a role in the company as time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/people-that-are-really-smart-and-that-can-learn-new-things-can-almost/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [It's one of those things when you are in a role you have to do what they ask you to do. If they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/it-s-one-of-those-things-when-you-are-in-a-role-you-have-to-do-what/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [I've always seen myself for who I am, which is a lot of things. So, I guess that when I walk into a room,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-ve-always-seen-myself-for-who-i-am-which-is-a-lot-of-things-so-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [It is incumbent upon us as justices, to educate, to educate, to help people understand what it is that we do what the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/it-is-incumbent-upon-us-as-justices-to-educate-to-educate-to-help/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [We surround ourselves with what is better or see other people as role models. You go, "If they can do this, so can I."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/we-surround-ourselves-with-what-is-better-or-see-other-people-as-role/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Design should not dominate things, should not dominate people. It should help people. That's its role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-rams/design-should-not-dominate-things-should-not-dominate-people-it/) [Dieter Rams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-rams/) > [People only see you as your last role, so it's hard to break out of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walton/people-only-see-you-as-your-last-role-so-it-s-hard-to-break-out-of/) [David Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walton/) > [The problem in India is that people see you in one role and then they want to offer you similar roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandira-bedi/the-problem-in-india-is-that-people-see-you-in-one-role-and-then-they/) [Mandira Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandira-bedi/) > [To change something in the minds of people - that's the role of an intellectual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/to-change-something-in-the-minds-of-people-that-s-the-role-of-an/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [People who are role models for the principles and values of the organization, who buy in and understand the vision of what the organization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/people-who-are-role-models-for-the-principles-and-values-of-the/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Even stupid people have a role to play in your life. They make you wiser and more patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/even-stupid-people-have-a-role-to-play-in-your-life-they-make-you/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [I see one single suitable role for my life's work: for it to be a gift to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/i-see-one-single-suitable-role-for-my-life-s-work-for-it-to-be-a-gift/) [Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/) ## More by Donald Knuth > [I'll never know everything. My life would be a lot worse if there was nothing I knew the answers about - and if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/i-ll-never-know-everything-my-life-would-be-a-lot-worse-if-there-was/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [“Nearly every example of faulty reasoning that has been published is accompanied by the phrase "of course" or its equivalent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/nearly-every-example-of-faulty-reasoning-that-has-been-published-is/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [ \[The Euclidean algorithm is\] the granddaddy of all algorithms, because it is the oldest nontrivial algorithm that has survived to the present day. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/the-euclidean-algorithm-is-the-granddaddy-of-all-algorithms-because/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [The process of preparing programs for a digital computer is especially attractive, not only because it can economically and scientifically rewarding, but also because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/the-process-of-preparing-programs-for-a-digital-computer-is/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [When certain concepts of TeX are introduced informally, general rules will be stated; afterwards you will find that the rules aren't strictly true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/when-certain-concepts-of-tex-are-introduced-informally-general-rules/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [In fact, my main conclusion after spending ten years of my life working on the TEX project is that software is hard. It's harder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/in-fact-my-main-conclusion-after-spending-ten-years-of-my-life/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [Any inaccuracies in this index may be explained by the fact that it has been prepared with the help of a computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/any-inaccuracies-in-this-index-may-be-explained-by-the-fact-that-it/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [My first program taught me a lot about the errors that I was going to be making in the future, and also about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/my-first-program-taught-me-a-lot-about-the-errors-that-i-was-going-to/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [It would be nice if we could design a virtual reality in Hyperbolic Space, and meet each other there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/it-would-be-nice-if-we-could-design-a-virtual-reality-in-hyperbolic/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [I have a hunch that the unknown sequences of DNA will decode into copyright notices and patent protections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/i-have-a-hunch-that-the-unknown-sequences-of-dna-will-decode-into/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [If you optimize everything, you will always be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/if-you-optimize-everything-you-will-always-be-unhappy/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [Computers are good at following instructions, but not at reading your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/computers-are-good-at-following-instructions-but-not-at-reading-your/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil. Yet we should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/we-should-forget-about-small-efficiencies-say-about-97-of-the-time/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [...One of the most important lessons, perhaps, is the fact that SOFTWARE IS HARD. From now on I shall have significantly greater respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/one-of-the-most-important-lessons-perhaps-is-the-fact-that-software/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [Always remember, however, that there’s usually a simpler and better way to do something than the first way that pops into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/always-remember-however-that-there-s-usually-a-simpler-and-better-way/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) [Explore all 78 Donald Knuth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) ## More Email quotes > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [Somebody once told me that if you laugh at a George Bush joke, or you send an email cartoon to your friends that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ramis/somebody-once-told-me-that-if-you-laugh-at-a-george-bush-joke-or-you/) [Harold Ramis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ramis/) > [I don't spend much time on the computer at all, so I do most of my email on my phone if I do any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-don-t-spend-much-time-on-the-computer-at-all-so-i-do-most-of-my/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [“Subject: This is a work environment and this is harassment Mr. Zaccadelli, I am writing to inform you that your proposition has been rejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-m-cameron/subject-this-is-a-work-environment-and-this-is-harassment-mr/) [Chelsea M. Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-m-cameron/) > [To quote a recent customer email, “I really appreciate your thoughtful and professional response. I don’t get that a lot from customer service. Usually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mickiewicz/to-quote-a-recent-customer-email-i-really-appreciate-your-thoughtful/) [Matt Mickiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mickiewicz/) > [The perception of what we as professors provide has changed. Constant and demanding e-mails are just another manifestation of what our society has become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-payne/the-perception-of-what-we-as-professors-provide-has-changed-constant/) [Dan Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-payne/) > [Each email contains an unsubscribe link. We will NEVER sell, rent, loan, or abuse your email address in ANY way. Writing has been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/each-email-contains-an-unsubscribe-link-we-will-never-sell-rent-loan/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [I saw a report on the news: 'Peter Dinklage tweeted... ' What? You know, I don't need any of that stuff. I got an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-saw-a-report-on-the-news-peter-dinklage-tweeted-what-you-know-i-don/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [It's just madness. First email. Then instant message. Then MySpace. Then Facebook. Then LinkedIn. Then Twitter. It's not enough anymore to 'Just do it.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/it-s-just-madness-first-email-then-instant-message-then-myspace-then/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I said it was a mistake. It wasn't the best choice. But all my emails have been turned over to the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-said-it-was-a-mistake-it-wasn-t-the-best-choice-but-all-my-emails/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [While I was still going to embrace social media, I knew I had to do things that nobody else was doing. I decided I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-edward/while-i-was-still-going-to-embrace-social-media-i-knew-i-had-to-do/) [Mark Edward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-edward/) > [I was late to the Internet. I didn't really understand what it was. I didn't know what an email was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/i-was-late-to-the-internet-i-didn-t-really-understand-what-it-was-i/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [“Only, his email is there. I check the date and time of his note. As of this morning, Dad was still alive in Afghanistan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-o-patterson/only-his-email-is-there-i-check-the-date-and-time-of-his-note-as-of/) Valerie O. Patterson > [When I get an email from someone who says, 'Your book was the first book I ever read,' or, 'Your book is what made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-i-get-an-email-from-someone-who-says-your-book-was-the-first/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) Browse all 910 Email quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Email is a wonderful thing for those people whose role in life is to be on top of things, but not for me: my role is to be on the bottom of things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Knuth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-people-whose-role-in-life-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Email" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-people-whose-role-in-life-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c63/donald-knuth-8762_email_email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-peo_626486.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Email is a wonderful thing for those people whose role in life is to be on top of things, but not for me: my…” — Donald Knuth", "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": "Donald Knuth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Email is a wonderful thing for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-people-whose-role-in-life-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-those-people-whose-role-in-life-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```