--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is more frustrating than sitting…" description: "\"“Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid typewriters and mimeographers when you know what deus ex machina means.”\" — Florence King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg" --- # Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid… ![“Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid typewriters and mimeographers when you know what deus ex machina means.” quote by Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg) > ““Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid typewriters and mimeographers when you know what deus ex machina means.”” [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being surrounded by outdated tools feels absurd when you grasp modern concepts like deus ex machina. **In simple terms:** Outdated settings clash with modern ideas. Key Takeaway Adapt environments to current knowledge. Themes technology frustration modernity Mood ironic critical Type observational satirical When to use this quote - office work - creative writing - academic research Key Concepts cognitive dissonance cultural lag Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay current in stagnant settings? - What strategies reduce frustration? A Different Perspective Change may be costly or resisted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amid Typewriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amid-typewriters-5341494/) [Deus Ex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deus-ex/) [Ex Machina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ex-machina/) [Machina Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machina-means-5341496/) [Mimeographers Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mimeographers-know-5341498/) [Office Amid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office-amid-5341497/) [Typewriters Mimeographers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriters-mimeographers-5341495/) ## Related quotes > [ I remember having some problems with \[the Deus Ex theme\] when I first heard it and I was trying to figure out how to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-spector/i-remember-having-some-problems-with-the-deus-ex-theme-when-i-first/) [Warren Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-spector/) > [Personally, I avoid deus ex machina like the plague - if you have to use one, it means you failed to set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/personally-i-avoid-deus-ex-machina-like-the-plague-if-you-have-to-use/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Just as well,” he said. “We have one deus ex machina too many as it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/just-as-well-he-said-we-have-one-deus-ex-machina-too-many-as-it-is/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“I had, therefore, to resign myself to commissioning a duplicate from a jeweller in Madrid. They did the work very nicely. The claws are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/i-had-therefore-to-resign-myself-to-commissioning-a-duplicate-from-a/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [“...This particular blunder is known as deus ex machina , which is French for "Are you fucking kidding me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-mittelmark/this-particular-blunder-is-known-as-deus-ex-machina-which-is-french/) [Howard Mittelmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-mittelmark/) > [“We have entered the Age of Light. The ages of steam and coal are long gone. With oil clinging to power, light is emerging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-watson/we-have-entered-the-age-of-light-the-ages-of-steam-and-coal-are-long/) [Bruce Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-watson/) > [“...no matter how beneficial a disappearing act might be for me, I could never tear myself away from a show in progress. Even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kilmer-purcell/no-matter-how-beneficial-a-disappearing-act-might-be-for-me-i-could/) [Josh Kilmer-Purcell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kilmer-purcell/) > [I need some kind of... like... last minute, poorly-set-up deus ex machina!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-need-some-kind-of-like-last-minute-poorly-set-up-deus-ex-machina/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“This is the plot up to the moment when the writer leaves the woman still dolefully enmeshed in it, and, suitcase in hand, tiptoeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/this-is-the-plot-up-to-the-moment-when-the-writer-leaves-the-woman/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“Introduction of deus ex machina is a tell-tale sign of sloppy plotting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mehalek/introduction-of-deus-ex-machina-is-a-tell-tale-sign-of-sloppy-plotting/) [Mike Mehalek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mehalek/) > [“language is no deus ex machina to account for philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-collins/language-is-no-deus-ex-machina-to-account-for-philosophy/) [Randall Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-collins/) > [“A deus ex machina will never appear in real life so you best make other arrangements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/a-deus-ex-machina-will-never-appear-in-real-life-so-you-best-make/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [“A bunch of different people appear, and they’ve got their own situations and reasons and excuses, and each one is pursuing his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/a-bunch-of-different-people-appear-and-they-ve-got-their-own/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“But think about it - what if there were a deus ex machina in real life? Everything would be so easy! If you felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/but-think-about-it-what-if-there-were-a-deus-ex-machina-in-real-life/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion, it's an insult to the audience. Each of us knows we must choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/deus-ex-machina-not-only-erases-all-meaning-and-emotion-it-s-an/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) ## More by Florence King > [“Feminists will not be satisfied until every abortion is performed by a gay black doctor under an endangered tree on a reservation for handicapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/feminists-will-not-be-satisfied-until-every-abortion-is-performed-by/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [People are so busy dreaming the American Dream, fantasizing about what they could be or have a right to be, that they're all asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/people-are-so-busy-dreaming-the-american-dream-fantasizing-about-what/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In its purest sense, nicknaming is an elitist ritual practiced by those who cherish hierarchy. For preppies it's a smoke signal that allows Bunny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-its-purest-sense-nicknaming-is-an-elitist-ritual-practiced-by/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In the last few years, race relations in America have entered upon a period of intensified craziness wherein fear of being called a racist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-the-last-few-years-race-relations-in-america-have-entered-upon-a/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [“For a girl gone wrong, you can't beat the banks of the Wabash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/for-a-girl-gone-wrong-you-can-t-beat-the-banks-of-the-wabash/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [A man should never apologize!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/a-man-should-never-apologize/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [He travels fastest who travels alone, and that goes double for she. Real feminism is spinsterhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/he-travels-fastest-who-travels-alone-and-that-goes-double-for-she/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [to a Southerner it is faux pas, not sins, that matter in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/to-a-southerner-it-is-faux-pas-not-sins-that-matter-in-this-world/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [If you ever meet someone who cannot understand why solitary confinement is considered punishment, you have met a misanthrope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/if-you-ever-meet-someone-who-cannot-understand-why-solitary/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [No matter which sex I went to bed with, I never smoked on the street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/no-matter-which-sex-i-went-to-bed-with-i-never-smoked-on-the-street/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Hereditary monarchy offers numerous advantages for America. It is the only form of government able to unify a heterogeneous people. Thanks to centuries of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/hereditary-monarchy-offers-numerous-advantages-for-america-it-is-the/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Resistance to team play seemed to pour like wet cement through my bones, displacing supple marrow, until I was ballasted with my own contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/resistance-to-team-play-seemed-to-pour-like-wet-cement-through-my/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In Mississippi the important thing is hooch, not bar equipment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-mississippi-the-important-thing-is-hooch-not-bar-equipment/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Writers, not psychiatrists, are the true interpreters of the human mind and heart, and we have been at it for a very long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/writers-not-psychiatrists-are-the-true-interpreters-of-the-human-mind/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Showing up at school already able to read is like showing up at the undertaker's already embalmed: people start worrying about being put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/showing-up-at-school-already-able-to-read-is-like-showing-up-at-the/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) [Explore all 158 Florence King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) ## More Deus Ex quotes > [ I remember having some problems with \[the Deus Ex theme\] when I first heard it and I was trying to figure out how to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-spector/i-remember-having-some-problems-with-the-deus-ex-theme-when-i-first/) [Warren Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-spector/) > [“But think about it - what if there were a deus ex machina in real life? Everything would be so easy! If you felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/but-think-about-it-what-if-there-were-a-deus-ex-machina-in-real-life/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“A bunch of different people appear, and they’ve got their own situations and reasons and excuses, and each one is pursuing his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/a-bunch-of-different-people-appear-and-they-ve-got-their-own/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“A deus ex machina will never appear in real life so you best make other arrangements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/a-deus-ex-machina-will-never-appear-in-real-life-so-you-best-make/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [“language is no deus ex machina to account for philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-collins/language-is-no-deus-ex-machina-to-account-for-philosophy/) [Randall Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-collins/) > [“Introduction of deus ex machina is a tell-tale sign of sloppy plotting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mehalek/introduction-of-deus-ex-machina-is-a-tell-tale-sign-of-sloppy-plotting/) [Mike Mehalek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mehalek/) > [“This is the plot up to the moment when the writer leaves the woman still dolefully enmeshed in it, and, suitcase in hand, tiptoeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/this-is-the-plot-up-to-the-moment-when-the-writer-leaves-the-woman/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [I need some kind of... like... last minute, poorly-set-up deus ex machina!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-need-some-kind-of-like-last-minute-poorly-set-up-deus-ex-machina/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“...no matter how beneficial a disappearing act might be for me, I could never tear myself away from a show in progress. Even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kilmer-purcell/no-matter-how-beneficial-a-disappearing-act-might-be-for-me-i-could/) [Josh Kilmer-Purcell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kilmer-purcell/) > [“We have entered the Age of Light. The ages of steam and coal are long gone. With oil clinging to power, light is emerging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-watson/we-have-entered-the-age-of-light-the-ages-of-steam-and-coal-are-long/) [Bruce Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-watson/) > [“...This particular blunder is known as deus ex machina , which is French for "Are you fucking kidding me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-mittelmark/this-particular-blunder-is-known-as-deus-ex-machina-which-is-french/) [Howard Mittelmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-mittelmark/) > [“I had, therefore, to resign myself to commissioning a duplicate from a jeweller in Madrid. They did the work very nicely. The claws are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/i-had-therefore-to-resign-myself-to-commissioning-a-duplicate-from-a/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [“Just as well,” he said. “We have one deus ex machina too many as it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/just-as-well-he-said-we-have-one-deus-ex-machina-too-many-as-it-is/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Personally, I avoid deus ex machina like the plague - if you have to use one, it means you failed to set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/personally-i-avoid-deus-ex-machina-like-the-plague-if-you-have-to-use/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion, it's an insult to the audience. Each of us knows we must choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/deus-ex-machina-not-only-erases-all-meaning-and-emotion-it-s-an/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) [Browse all 24 Deus Ex quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deus-ex/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid typewriters and mimeographers when you know what deus ex machina means.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Florence King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting-in-an-office-amid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deus Ex" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting-in-an-office-amid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/florence-king-2603_deus-ex_nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting_2283954.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid typewriters and mimeographers when you know what…” — Florence King", "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": "Florence King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nothing is more frustrating than sitting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting-in-an-office-amid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting-in-an-office-amid/#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 } } ] } ```