---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stand firm in your refusal to remain…"
description: "\"Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.\" — Fran Lebowitz"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png"
---

#  Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during…

![“Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.” quote by Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png)

> “Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.”

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A humorous claim that algebra is irrelevant, urging resistance to forced consciousness.

**In simple terms:** Algebra is nonsense, stay unaware.

Key Takeaway

Question the relevance of imposed knowledge.

Themes

humor skepticism education

Mood

wry thoughtful

Type

satirical philosophical

When to use this quote

- academic pressure
- personal belief
- critical thinking

Key Concepts

absurdism existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- Is there value in questioning accepted truths?
- How does humor reveal hidden anxieties?

A Different Perspective

The statement is satirical, not a literal stance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Algebra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/) [Algebra Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra-real-1773631/) [Conscious Algebra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-algebra-3705283/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Remain Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remain-conscious-1949406/) [Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand/) [Stand firm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-firm/) [Thing Algebra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-algebra-1728984/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/)

## Related quotes

> [In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/in-real-life-i-assure-you-there-is-no-such-thing-as-algebra/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [The 2 most common lies you hear: 1. We will always be together. 2. You will use algebra in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-2-most-common-lies-you-hear-1-we-will-always-be-together-2-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There are 3 most common lies that you will hear: 1) I love you. 2) We will be together forever. 3) You will use algebra in real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-3-most-common-lies-that-you-will-hear-1-i-love-you-2-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I have so little control over the act of writing that it's all I can do to remain conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-have-so-little-control-over-the-act-of-writing-that-it-s-all-i-can-2/)

[David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/)

> [I resolved to move just a little bit more slowly through the world, to look around myself with greater care, and to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-resolved-to-move-just-a-little-bit-more-slowly-through-the-world-to/)

[Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/)

> [“To remain conscious and continent was her new goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/to-remain-conscious-and-continent-was-her-new-goal/)

[Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/)

> [“Self-satisfaction with the inability to remain conscious when faced with printed matter seems misplaced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/self-satisfaction-with-the-inability-to-remain-conscious-when-faced/)

[Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/)

> [“Leave if you wish but never forget I will remain in your conscious mind through wild things and whiskey. You'll try to forget I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/leave-if-you-wish-but-never-forget-i-will-remain-in-your-conscious/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

> [The scriptures say to wake up from the deep sleep of ignorance, remain fully awake, remain conscious, &amp; go on learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rama-swami/the-scriptures-say-to-wake-up-from-the-deep-sleep-of-ignorance-remain/)

[Rama Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rama-swami/)

> [ \[On refusing to do nude movie scenes:\] There are certain people who should know what you look like naked. I just don't think your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/on-refusing-to-do-nude-movie-scenes-there-are-certain-people-who/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [Algebra applies to the clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/algebra-applies-to-the-clouds/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Great people create great acts of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/great-people-create-great-acts-of-kindness/)

[Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/)

> [...the science of calculation also is indispensable as far as the extraction of the square and cube roots: Algebra as far as the quadratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-science-of-calculation-also-is-indispensable-as-far-as-the/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [“Who cares for Algebra? Who delights in solving math? I only want to live my life Along the creative path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/who-cares-for-algebra-who-delights-in-solving-math-i-only-want-to/)

[Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/)

## More by Fran Lebowitz

> [Why not have your first baby at sixty, when your husband is already dead and your career is over? Then you can really devote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/why-not-have-your-first-baby-at-sixty-when-your-husband-is-already/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [I've never had the experience of being edited and never will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-ve-never-had-the-experience-of-being-edited-and-never-will/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. Wit is judgment, whereas humor invites some sort of response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-think-humor-is-warmer-and-wit-is-colder-wit-is-judgment-whereas/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Communists all seem to wear small caps, a look I consider better suited to tubes of toothpaste than to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/communists-all-seem-to-wear-small-caps-a-look-i-consider-better/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [“lack, or loutish and crass kollective is a program dedicated to the proposition that vulgarity and bad taste are an inalienable right. the lackies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/lack-or-loutish-and-crass-kollective-is-a-program-dedicated-to-the/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [I figure you have the same chance of winning the lottery whether you play or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-figure-you-have-the-same-chance-of-winning-the-lottery-whether-you/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [ \[Friendships\] are easy to get out of compared to love affairs, but they are not easy to get out of compared to, say, jail. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/friendships-are-easy-to-get-out-of-compared-to-love-affairs-but-they/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Smoking is, as far as I'm concerned, the entire point of being an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-the-entire-point-of-being-an-adult/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-this-world-get-a-lawyer-not-a-book/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [When it comes to sports I am not particularly interested. Generally speaking, I look upon them as dangerous and tiring activities performed by people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-it-comes-to-sports-i-am-not-particularly-interested-generally/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [The first time I ever saw platform shoes in the '70s, I knew they'd been revived from the '40s, and I felt sickened. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/the-first-time-i-ever-saw-platform-shoes-in-the-70s-i-knew-they-d/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [ I do not think everyone is created equal. In fact, I know they're not. \[The Constitution\] means that everyone should have the same laws… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-do-not-think-everyone-is-created-equal-in-fact-i-know-they-re-not/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [When I fly, I'm never afraid the plane is going to crash. But there have often been times when I was afraid it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-fly-i-m-never-afraid-the-plane-is-going-to-crash-but-there/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [Smoking is, if not my life, then at least my hobby. I love to smoke. Smoking is fun. Smoking is cool. Smoking is, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/smoking-is-if-not-my-life-then-at-least-my-hobby-i-love-to-smoke/)

[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

[Explore all 408 Fran Lebowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

## More Algebra quotes

> [“Who cares for Algebra? Who delights in solving math? I only want to live my life Along the creative path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/who-cares-for-algebra-who-delights-in-solving-math-i-only-want-to/)

[Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/)

> [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [...the science of calculation also is indispensable as far as the extraction of the square and cube roots: Algebra as far as the quadratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-science-of-calculation-also-is-indispensable-as-far-as-the/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Great people create great acts of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/great-people-create-great-acts-of-kindness/)

[Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/)

> [Algebra applies to the clouds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/algebra-applies-to-the-clouds/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [ \[On refusing to do nude movie scenes:\] There are certain people who should know what you look like naked. I just don't think your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/on-refusing-to-do-nude-movie-scenes-there-are-certain-people-who/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [Hmm. I'm still not very good at algebra. I just can't figure out Y.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hmm-i-m-still-not-very-good-at-algebra-i-just-can-t-figure-out-y/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Astronomy, that micography of heaven, is the most magnificent of the sciences. ... Astronomy has its clear side and its luminous side; on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/astronomy-that-micography-of-heaven-is-the-most-magnificent-of-the/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [No one fully understands spinors. Their algebra is formally understood but their general significance is mysterious. In some sense they describe the 'square root'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atiyah/no-one-fully-understands-spinors-their-algebra-is-formally-understood/)

[Michael Atiyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-atiyah/)

> [Cryptography has generated number theory, algebraic geometry over finite fields, algebra, combinatorics and computers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-arnold/cryptography-has-generated-number-theory-algebraic-geometry-over/)

[Vladimir Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-arnold/)

> [There's nothing in your life you can't learn from, if you respond with the right attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-s-nothing-in-your-life-you-can-t-learn-from-if-you-respond-with/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [ALGEBRA is a general Method of Computation by certain Signs and Symbols which have been contrived for this Purpose, and found convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-maclaurin/algebra-is-a-general-method-of-computation-by-certain-signs-and/)

[Colin Maclaurin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-maclaurin/)

> [A child in the 4th grade who's just learning algebra is not imperfect. While there may be a child in the 12th grade who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-child-in-the-4th-grade-who-s-just-learning-algebra-is-not-imperfect/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [When I was at school, I was terrible at algebra and arithmetic, but I was always the best at English and literature. And acting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/when-i-was-at-school-i-was-terrible-at-algebra-and-arithmetic-but-i/)

[Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/)

> [Algebra goes to the heart of the matter at it ignores the casual nature of particular cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-charles-titchmarsh/algebra-goes-to-the-heart-of-the-matter-at-it-ignores-the-casual/)

[Edward Charles Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-charles-titchmarsh/)

[Browse all 235 Algebra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/algebra/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such thing as algebra.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Fran Lebowitz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-conscious-during-algebra-in-real/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Algebra"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-conscious-during-algebra-in-real/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/550/fran-lebowitz-690_algebra_stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-con_2838026.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Stand firm in your refusal to remain conscious during algebra. In real life, I assure you, there is no such…” — Fran Lebowitz",
                "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": "Fran Lebowitz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Stand firm in your refusal to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-conscious-during-algebra-in-real/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/stand-firm-in-your-refusal-to-remain-conscious-during-algebra-in-real/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
