--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I created the OASIS because I never felt…" description: "\"I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn't know how to connect with the people there.\" — Ernest Cline" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ernest-cline-1857_felt_i-created-the-oasis-because-i-never-felt_1897662.png" --- # I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the… ![“I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn't know how to connect with the people there.” quote by Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ernest-cline-1857_felt_i-created-the-oasis-because-i-never-felt_1897662.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ernest-cline-1857_felt_i-created-the-oasis-because-i-never-felt_1897662.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93c/ernest-cline-1857_felt_i-created-the-oasis-because-i-never-felt_1897662.png) > “I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn't know how to connect with the people there.” [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Escapism stems from feeling disconnected; virtual worlds offer belonging when reality feels alien **In simple terms:** Feeling out of place leads to creating virtual refuge Key Takeaway Seek connection in real life Themes loneliness escapism digital identity Mood thoughtful nostalgic Type literary reflective When to use this quote - online gaming - remote work - social media use Key Concepts virtual reality social isolation identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What real connections can replace virtual ones? - How to balance virtual and real interactions? A Different Perspective Virtual escape can hinder real‑world growth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Oasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oasis/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [True happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-happiness/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I created the OASIS because I never felt at home in the real world. I didn't know how to connect with the people there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-created-the-oasis-because-i-never-felt-at-home-in-the-real-world-i/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“Anonymity was one of the major perks of the OASIS.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/anonymity-was-one-of-the-major-perks-of-the-oasis/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“It occurred to me then that for the first time in as long as I could remember, I had absolutely no desire to log…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/it-occurred-to-me-then-that-for-the-first-time-in-as-long-as-i-could/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [...now that everyone could vote from home, via the OASIS, the only people who could get elected were movie stars, reality TV personalities, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/now-that-everyone-could-vote-from-home-via-the-oasis-the-only-people/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [ “Morrow \[…\] felt that OASIS had evolved into something horrible. ”It had become a self-imposed prison for humanity. A pleasant place for the world… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/morrow-felt-that-oasis-had-evolved-into-something-horrible-it-had/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“As terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/as-terrifying-and-painful-as-reality-can-be-it-s-also-the-only-place/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“I realized, as painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-realized-as-painful-as-reality-can-be-it-s-also-the-only-place/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [Bombay always felt home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-kapoor/bombay-always-felt-home/) [Karan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-kapoor/) > [When I started touring and coming to San Francisco, especially, I felt the most at home in America, other than in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/when-i-started-touring-and-coming-to-san-francisco-especially-i-felt/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [He never yelled or screamed so I felt very at home and comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-o-brien/he-never-yelled-or-screamed-so-i-felt-very-at-home-and-comfortable/) [Margaret O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-o-brien/) > [“She felt really alone now. But here's the thing- suddenly she felt as though she belonged inside the aloneness, and that feeling made her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/she-felt-really-alone-now-but-here-s-the-thing-suddenly-she-felt-as/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“I've always tried to make a home for myself, but I have not felt at home in myself. I've worked hard at being the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-ve-always-tried-to-make-a-home-for-myself-but-i-have-not-felt-at/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I've always felt more at home in the UK than in France.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-ve-always-felt-more-at-home-in-the-uk-than-in-france/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [I lived in Hollywood long enough to learn to play tennis and become a star, but I never felt it was my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-goddard/i-lived-in-hollywood-long-enough-to-learn-to-play-tennis-and-become-a/) [Paulette Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-goddard/) > [“I discovered that I felt at home and alive in the silence, which compelled me to enter my interior world and around there. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-discovered-that-i-felt-at-home-and-alive-in-the-silence-which/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) ## More by Ernest Cline > [“Halliday’s favorites, like WarGames, Ghostbusters, Real Genius, Better Off Dead, or Revenge of the Nerds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/halliday-s-favorites-like-wargames-ghostbusters-real-genius-better/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“Ray seemed to subsist primarily on a diet of high-fructose junk food and old videogames. It was hard not to love the guy. Back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/ray-seemed-to-subsist-primarily-on-a-diet-of-high-fructose-junk-food/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“Besides, what if BSG and Firefly took place in the same universe? You ever consider that?” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-what-if-bsg-and-firefly-took-place-in-the-same-universe-you/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [My characters are all kind of geek archetypes of people I've encountered at gaming and comic book conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/my-characters-are-all-kind-of-geek-archetypes-of-people-i-ve/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“I understood her, trusted her, and loved her as a dear friend. None of that had changed, or could be changed by anything as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-understood-her-trusted-her-and-loved-her-as-a-dear-friend-none-of/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“Dilettantes,’ Art3mis said. ‘It’s their own fault for not knowing all the Schoolhouse Rock! lyrics by heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/dilettantes-art3mis-said-it-s-their-own-fault-for-not-knowing-all-the/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“I fired a last volley of plasma bolts at the unprotected enemy ship, which was already vibrating from the buildup of power in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-fired-a-last-volley-of-plasma-bolts-at-the-unprotected-enemy-ship/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [I've heard Stephen King say that when you write a novel you end up revealing everything about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-ve-heard-stephen-king-say-that-when-you-write-a-novel-you-end-up/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [Everybody uses pop culture as a shorthand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/everybody-uses-pop-culture-as-a-shorthand/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“Something Daito had left to me in his will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/something-daito-had-left-to-me-in-his-will/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [The clans began to bombard the outer force field with rockets, missiles, nukes, and harsh language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/the-clans-began-to-bombard-the-outer-force-field-with-rockets/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“tried to keep my cool. I tried to remain skeptical. I reminded myself that I was a man of science, even if I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/tried-to-keep-my-cool-i-tried-to-remain-skeptical-i-reminded-myself/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [I notice when I'm at a party where I don't know anybody - even if I have nothing in common with somebody - we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-notice-when-i-m-at-a-party-where-i-don-t-know-anybody-even-if-i/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [“Not trusting my instincts any further, I loaded up a piece of high-end avatar dance software called Travoltra, which I’d downloaded and tested earlier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/not-trusting-my-instincts-any-further-i-loaded-up-a-piece-of-high-end/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [I burned through all of my extra lives in a matter of minutes, and my two least-favorite words appeared on the screen: GAME OVER.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/i-burned-through-all-of-my-extra-lives-in-a-matter-of-minutes-and-my/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) [Explore all 184 Ernest Cline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) ## More Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [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/) > [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [The more I read about feeding times, sleep times and waking-up times, the more inadequate and miserable I felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/the-more-i-read-about-feeding-times-sleep-times-and-waking-up-times/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. 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