--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time travel causes chaos, and chaos…" description: "\"“ Time travel causes chaos, and chaos doesn't follow your rules. That's why it's called chaos, dummy. - Professor Charles Smart”\" — Eoin Colfer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/eoin-colfer-736_chaos_time-travel-causes-chaos-and-chaos-doesn_3234681.png" --- # Time travel causes chaos, and chaos doesn't follow your… ![“Time travel causes chaos, and chaos doesn't follow your rules. That's why it's called chaos, dummy. - Professor Charles Smart” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/eoin-colfer-736_chaos_time-travel-causes-chaos-and-chaos-doesn_3234681.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/eoin-colfer-736_chaos_time-travel-causes-chaos-and-chaos-doesn_3234681.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/eoin-colfer-736_chaos_time-travel-causes-chaos-and-chaos-doesn_3234681.png) > ““ Time travel causes chaos, and chaos doesn't follow your rules. That's why it's called chaos, dummy. - Professor Charles Smart”” [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chaos defies attempts to control it, especially when time travel is involved, leading to unpredictable outcomes. **In simple terms:** Time travel creates uncontrollable chaos. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty when manipulating time. Themes science fiction causality uncertainty Mood cautious intrigued Type cautionary speculative When to use this quote - time travel experiments - storytelling - risk assessment Key Concepts temporal mechanics chaos theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we mitigate unforeseen consequences of time manipulation? - What ethical limits should govern time travel? A Different Perspective Chaos may be inevitable despite careful planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-chaos-3955148/) [Causes Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes-chaos-339688/) [Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos/) [Chaos Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos-doesn-2849141/) [Chaos Dummy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos-dummy-6132644/) [Time travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-travel/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ## Related quotes > [It is your restlessness that causes chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/it-is-your-restlessness-that-causes-chaos/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [A man, as we see in this world, is chaos, but he doesn't recognize that fact so he tries to bring order into everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-man-as-we-see-in-this-world-is-chaos-but-he-doesn-t-recognize-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“the Upanishads suggest that so-called chaos may have an actual divine function, even if you personally can't recognize it right now: "The best we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-upanishads-suggest-that-so-called-chaos-may-have-an-actual-divine/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If you could only keep quiet, clear of memories and expectations, you would be able to discern the beautiful pattern of events. Its your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/if-you-could-only-keep-quiet-clear-of-memories-and-expectations-you/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“Every time we sin, it causes chaos in our lives; maybe not at that very moment, but eventually it always catches up”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-bertram/every-time-we-sin-it-causes-chaos-in-our-lives-maybe-not-at-that-very/) [Robin Bertram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-bertram/) > [...chaos doesn't run the whole show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/chaos-doesn-t-run-the-whole-show/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Chaos doesn’t mean that the system is behaving randomly, it means that it is unpredictable because it has many variables, it is too complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-gazzaniga/chaos-doesn-t-mean-that-the-system-is-behaving-randomly-it-means-that/) [Michael S. Gazzaniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-gazzaniga/) > [This idea that America is somehow on the verge of collapse, this vision of violence and chaos everywhere, doesn't really jibe with the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/this-idea-that-america-is-somehow-on-the-verge-of-collapse-this/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Chaos doesn't need permission to propagate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-mercer/chaos-doesn-t-need-permission-to-propagate/) [Aldous Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-mercer/) > [“ I often think I should just abandon the whole thing. I really do. Time travel could be a gift to humanity. Whoever controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-often-think-i-should-just-abandon-the-whole-thing-i-really-do-time/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick purchased a mug of coffee from his regular man on the tip of Oxford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire-when-garrick-purchased-a-mug/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“ Sometimes I feel like people aren't listening to me. I spend ninety minutes up here talking about the dangers of time travel, advising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sometimes-i-feel-like-people-aren-t-listening-to-me-i-spend-ninety/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [One must stand stiller than still. On reverse time travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeans/one-must-stand-stiller-than-still-on-reverse-time-travel/) [James Jeans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jeans/) > [“Seriously, this old woman had no idea how close she came to being squashed like a roach. -Sage Hannigan, Contingency”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-martinez/seriously-this-old-woman-had-no-idea-how-close-she-came-to-being/) [P. S. Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-martinez/) > [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) ## More by Eoin Colfer > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [And I will not be beaten by that jackass." "Jackass?" said Foaly, wounded. "My favorite uncle is a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-i-will-not-be-beaten-by-that-jackass-jackass-said-foaly-wounded/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/thankfully-the-rest-of-the-world-assumed-that-the-irish-were-crazy-a/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [The craft's occupants clutched their armrests, and more than one of them closed their eyes. But not Artemis. He couldn't. There was something morbidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-craft-s-occupants-clutched-their-armrests-and-more-than-one-of/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/if-elmore-leonard-met-jim-thompson-down-a-dark-alley-at-midnight-they/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Sig Sauer. Nine millimetres. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sig-sauer-nine-millimetres-thirteen-in-the-magazine-big-bullets-one/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Onscreen, Foaly rubbed his eyelids with his index fingers. "Yeah, yeah. Here we go. Captain Short goes rogue once more. Hands up who's surprised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/onscreen-foaly-rubbed-his-eyelids-with-his-index-fingers-yeah-yeah/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/about-his-terrible-attempt-at-making-a-sandwich-it-s-more-difficult/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“ It's now or never , thought Otto. Now, now! thought Witmeyer. And so Ram kissed Thundercat, and suddenly neither bed of roses nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-s-now-or-never-thought-otto-now-now-thought-witmeyer-and-so-ram/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Explore all 371 Eoin Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More Chaos quotes > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [If I meet a wise person, I think, 'Yes, tell me more about parenting, about marriage, about how to stay in love. Tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/if-i-meet-a-wise-person-i-think-yes-tell-me-more-about-parenting/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [I love Derrick Brown for the surprise of one word waking up next to another. One moment tender, funny or romantic, the next, visceral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-love-derrick-brown-for-the-surprise-of-one-word-waking-up-next-to/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/chaos-often-breeds-life-when-order-breeds-habit/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [There seems to be a kind of order in the universe…in the movement of the stars and the turning of the Earth and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/there-seems-to-be-a-kind-of-order-in-the-universe-in-the-movement-of/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [In the ring, there's not a lot of room for mistakes. You're in a place that is chaos, that is on fire. That ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/in-the-ring-there-s-not-a-lot-of-room-for-mistakes-you-re-in-a-place/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“It was her chaos that made her beautiful. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-poetry/it-was-her-chaos-that-made-her-beautiful/) [Atticus Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-poetry/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Who’s to say that it takes something like a drug to mess with your perception of reality? How did Hitler deceive a nation? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/who-s-to-say-that-it-takes-something-like-a-drug-to-mess-with-your/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [And yet, I do believe there is ultimately meaning in the chaos, and also in the doldrums. What I resist is not the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-yet-i-do-believe-there-is-ultimately-meaning-in-the-chaos-and/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I came to think of myself, not as a dance and chaos of molecules, but as a brief and minute portion of that majestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durant/i-came-to-think-of-myself-not-as-a-dance-and-chaos-of-molecules-but/) [Will Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durant/) [Browse all 2,640 Chaos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“ Time travel causes chaos, and chaos doesn't follow your rules. 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