--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think…" description: "\"Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think that it is possible, but I don't think that it's going to be machines enslaving humans.\" — Ernest Cline" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png" --- # Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think that it is… ![“Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think that it is possible, but I don't think that it's going to be machines enslaving humans.” quote by Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png) > “Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think that it is possible, but I don't think that it's going to be machines enslaving humans.” [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. The film suggests a future where technology could dominate, but the speaker doubts machines will enslave humanity. **In simple terms:** Machines may be powerful, but not necessarily enslavers. Key Takeaway Question the inevitability of technological domination. Themes technology future control Mood cautious speculative Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - discussing tech ethics - debating sci‑fi scenarios - considering AI policy Key Concepts AI power dynamics human agency Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent tech overreach? - How do we balance optimism and caution? A Different Perspective Some argue machines could still dominate in subtler ways. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Going Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-machines-4325093/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Machines Enslaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines-enslaving-4325092/) [Matrix Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matrix-think-986196/) [Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Think Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-possible/) [Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch/) [Watch Matrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch-matrix-4325091/) ## Related quotes > [Facebook is kind of like the matrix if you think about it... fake reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/facebook-is-kind-of-like-the-matrix-if-you-think-about-it-fake-reality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want people to suffer less, and I think it's possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-butler/i-want-people-to-suffer-less-and-i-think-it-s-possible/) [Katy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-butler/) > [I think it's possible to realize you love someone as deeply as you know how to love and not end up spending the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-jones-gunn/i-think-it-s-possible-to-realize-you-love-someone-as-deeply-as-you/) [Robin Jones Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-jones-gunn/) > [“Have a positive mentality; think it's possible. You can build on something little… you can create something little from nothing… and this means you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/have-a-positive-mentality-think-it-s-possible-you-can-build-on/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I think it's possible to climb the Dawn Wall in a single day. No matter what, it would be really, really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/i-think-it-s-possible-to-climb-the-dawn-wall-in-a-single-day-no/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [I don't think it's possible to have a wedding without it being stressful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-don-t-think-it-s-possible-to-have-a-wedding-without-it-being/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [“- “Do you think it’s possible to love more than one person? At the same time?” -“I think just about anything is possible when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-garvis-graves/do-you-think-it-s-possible-to-love-more-than-one-person-at-the-same/) [Tracey Garvis-Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-garvis-graves/) > [You see me, I wanted to be fashion designer. I became fashion designer. So I think that everything is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/you-see-me-i-wanted-to-be-fashion-designer-i-became-fashion-designer/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [I think as much as possible, an artist, if he has any kind of social or political concern, has to…expose as much as possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/i-think-as-much-as-possible-an-artist-if-he-has-any-kind-of-social-or/) [Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/) > [The best things come from collaboration, I don't think it's possible to create something truly alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/the-best-things-come-from-collaboration-i-don-t-think-it-s-possible/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [There is no number or level of success that would make me think, 'Wow, I didn't think that was possible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/there-is-no-number-or-level-of-success-that-would-make-me-think-wow-i/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [“Never in a million years did I think I’d end up making a career out of singing. I didn’t think it was possible. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/never-in-a-million-years-did-i-think-i-d-end-up-making-a-career-out/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [The mind has powers that allow us to go beyond our normal or habitual way of being, and beyond what we think is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jaworski/the-mind-has-powers-that-allow-us-to-go-beyond-our-normal-or-habitual/) [Joseph Jaworski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jaworski/) > [“To properly engage in magical thinking, I find you have to think of every possible ghastly scenario. That's the only way you outsmart fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs/to-properly-engage-in-magical-thinking-i-find-you-have-to-think-of/) [A.J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) ## 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 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. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. 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. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) [Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/) > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) [William Henry Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-pickering/) > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) [Cruce Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cruce-stark/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think that it is possible, but I don't think that it's going to be machines enslaving humans.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ernest Cline" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that-it-is-possible-but-i-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that-it-is-possible-but-i-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbd/ernest-cline-1857_computers_whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that_510081.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I think that it is possible, but I don't think that it's going to be machines…” — Ernest Cline", "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": "Ernest Cline", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whenever I watch 'The Matrix,' I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that-it-is-possible-but-i-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/whenever-i-watch-the-matrix-i-think-that-it-is-possible-but-i-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```