--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before machines the only form of…" description: "\"Before machines the only form of entertainment people really had was relationships.\" — Douglas Coupland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/douglas-coupland-305_computers_before-machines-the-only-form-of-enterta_102292.jpg" --- # Before machines the only form of entertainment people… ![“Before machines the only form of entertainment people really had was relationships.” quote by Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/douglas-coupland-305_computers_before-machines-the-only-form-of-enterta_102292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/douglas-coupland-305_computers_before-machines-the-only-form-of-enterta_102292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/douglas-coupland-305_computers_before-machines-the-only-form-of-enterta_102292.jpg) > “Before machines the only form of entertainment people really had was relationships.” [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Before digital entertainment, human connection was the primary source of joy and meaning, highlighting the relational nature of fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Relationships were the original entertainment. Key Takeaway Human bonds precede technology. Themes technology relationships culture media Mood nostalgic reflective Type cultural observational When to use this quote - family gatherings - community events - digital detox retreats - friendship circles Key Concepts social isolation digital distraction Practical Applications - Prioritize face‑to‑face interaction - Limit screen time for deeper connections Questions to Reflect On - How does technology reshape our need for relationships? - Can digital media ever replicate genuine human connection? A Different Perspective Romanticizes the past; not all pre‑digital interactions were fulfilling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) ## Related quotes > [One of the nice things about books as opposed to television and movies to some extent is it's not a passive entertainment. People really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/one-of-the-nice-things-about-books-as-opposed-to-television-and/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I've learned a lot about dating from my brothers. I've done really well with the relationships that I've been in so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-dating-from-my-brothers-i-ve-done-really/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Our primary relationship is really with ourselves. Our relationships with other people constantly reflect exactly where we are in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/our-primary-relationship-is-really-with-ourselves-our-relationships/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [I know MMA isn't for everyone. It is a combat sport; some people don't like watching it, but it is entertainment for some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-taylor/i-know-mma-isn-t-for-everyone-it-is-a-combat-sport-some-people-don-t/) [Katie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-taylor/) > [I'm gonna go down in history as being one of the best music men and businessmen in entertainment ... The people that I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/puff-daddy/i-m-gonna-go-down-in-history-as-being-one-of-the-best-music-men-and/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/puff-daddy/) > [I think it's just entertainment for people that are interested in the form. To sing along to and be psyched by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/i-think-it-s-just-entertainment-for-people-that-are-interested-in-the/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [“in return for full bellies and entertainment, his people had given up their political responsibilities and therefore their power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/in-return-for-full-bellies-and-entertainment-his-people-had-given-up/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I chose not to jump into the media frenzy and defend myself, though I was begged to be on every single TV show in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-chose-not-to-jump-into-the-media-frenzy-and-defend-myself-though-i/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [There's nothing in the world like live entertainment. With TV, you have to wait for your results; with live entertainment, people let you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/there-s-nothing-in-the-world-like-live-entertainment-with-tv-you-have/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [We should love the fact that we're not just getting one point of view. That we have this diversity in entertainment, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/we-should-love-the-fact-that-we-re-not-just-getting-one-point-of-view/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Cinema is entertainment, and people go to the movies because they want to feel good and forget about everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-cassel/cinema-is-entertainment-and-people-go-to-the-movies-because-they-want/) [Vincent Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-cassel/) > [Pro wrestling is entertainment, but people get hurt all of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t/pro-wrestling-is-entertainment-but-people-get-hurt-all-of-the-time/) [Booker T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t/) > [Why would I want anything that's private to become entertainment for other people?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/why-would-i-want-anything-that-s-private-to-become-entertainment-for/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [From the first time you can look in the paper and you accept that you're the entertainment for some people that night, it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/from-the-first-time-you-can-look-in-the-paper-and-you-accept-that-you/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [Fashion is much more than product. It's about entertainment and people feeling a part of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-bailey/fashion-is-much-more-than-product-it-s-about-entertainment-and-people/) [Glenda Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-bailey/) ## More by Douglas Coupland > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [A man in a bookstore buys a book on loneliness and every woman in the store hits on him. A woman buys a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/a-man-in-a-bookstore-buys-a-book-on-loneliness-and-every-woman-in-the/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [The future and eternity are two entirely different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/the-future-and-eternity-are-two-entirely-different-things/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Do you remember how you felt at seventeen? I do and I don't (...) 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"This is so surreal," she says, "I think I'm turning into a melting clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/anna-louise-leans-over-and-whispers-in-my-ear-this-is-so-surreal-she/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [When you grow up these days, you're told you're going to have four or five different careers during your lifetime. But what they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/when-you-grow-up-these-days-you-re-told-you-re-going-to-have-four-or/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) [Explore all 704 Douglas Coupland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. 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Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. 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