--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember when I was a kid and I was…" description: "\"I remember when I was a kid and I was interested in robots, there was really nothing out there but Erector Sets and Tinker Toys.\" — Grant Imahara" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/grant-imahara-13149_nothing_i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-was-in_1391626.png" --- # I remember when I was a kid and I was interested in… ![“I remember when I was a kid and I was interested in robots, there was really nothing out there but Erector Sets and Tinker Toys.” quote by Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/grant-imahara-13149_nothing_i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-was-in_1391626.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/grant-imahara-13149_nothing_i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-was-in_1391626.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/grant-imahara-13149_nothing_i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-was-in_1391626.png) > “I remember when I was a kid and I was interested in robots, there was really nothing out there but Erector Sets and Tinker Toys.” [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recalls childhood curiosity about robots despite limited toys, highlighting early spark of engineering interest. **In simple terms:** Childhood curiosity about robots sparked his passion. Key Takeaway Nurture early interests into expertise. Themes curiosity engineering inspiration Mood reflective hopeful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - school projects - DIY robotics - career planning - mentoring youth Key Concepts STEM education early exposure imagination Questions to Reflect On - How can we provide better tools for curious kids? - What role does imagination play in engineering? A Different Perspective Limited resources can hinder skill development without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Interested Robots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-robots-4852283/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Robots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robots/) [Robots Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robots-really-3784778/) [Tinker Toys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tinker-toys-4852284/) [Toys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toys/) ## Related quotes > [We humans have a love-hate relationship with our technology. We love each new advance and we hate how fast our world is changing... The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/we-humans-have-a-love-hate-relationship-with-our-technology-we-love/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [The one thing that robots really find difficult to do is to look someone in the eye and have a sense of how they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/the-one-thing-that-robots-really-find-difficult-to-do-is-to-look/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [When we come on stage as robots, it's really powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/when-we-come-on-stage-as-robots-it-s-really-powerful/) [Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/) > [“We all think we're snowflakes, but we're Tinker Toys, held together by our interchangeable parts. (39)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-fox/we-all-think-we-re-snowflakes-but-we-re-tinker-toys-held-together-by/) [Lauren Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-fox/) > [I hope people can envision a future where we as humans have robots that are alongside us, assisting in our daily lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-hope-people-can-envision-a-future-where-we-as-humans-have-robots/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-at-the-model-shop-i-couldn-t/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I have a secret weapon. And it could have something to do with special robot knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-have-a-secret-weapon-and-it-could-have-something-to-do-with-special/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > ['MythBusters' sounded like such an incredible opportunity. Where else might I be paid to make robots blow things up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/mythbusters-sounded-like-such-an-incredible-opportunity-where-else/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [The great mystery is why robots come off so well in science-fiction films when the human characters are often so astoundingly wooden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-great-mystery-is-why-robots-come-off-so-well-in-science-fiction/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [It's going to be fun watching this robot start malfunctioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/it-s-going-to-be-fun-watching-this-robot-start-malfunctioning/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [..I find it incredible impossible not to cry when I hear Stevie Nicks's "Landslide," especially the lyric: "I've been afraid of changing, because I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-find-it-incredible-impossible-not-to-cry-when-i-hear-stevie-nicks-s/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [I don't know if robots have personalities, but I think maybe we are special robots that are maybe human after all. We try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/i-don-t-know-if-robots-have-personalities-but-i-think-maybe-we-are/) [Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-manuel-de-homem-christo/) > [The other one I did was 'I, Robot.' I take apart Isaac Asimov's Robots world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/the-other-one-i-did-was-i-robot-i-take-apart-isaac-asimov-s-robots/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [A South Korean inventor has finally created the robot that mankind has been waiting for. Scientists who have been worried about the robot apocalypse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pesca/a-south-korean-inventor-has-finally-created-the-robot-that-mankind/) [Mike Pesca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pesca/) ## More by Grant Imahara > [The people who are changing our world are starting from an idea and bringing it all the way through to finished product with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/the-people-who-are-changing-our-world-are-starting-from-an-idea-and/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > ['MythBusters' sounded like such an incredible opportunity. Where else might I be paid to make robots blow things up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/mythbusters-sounded-like-such-an-incredible-opportunity-where-else/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I have a secret weapon. And it could have something to do with special robot knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-have-a-secret-weapon-and-it-could-have-something-to-do-with-special/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [As a former competitor, robot combat is near and dear to my heart. I enjoy the mix of creativity and mayhem that are essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/as-a-former-competitor-robot-combat-is-near-and-dear-to-my-heart-i/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [First career I had right out of engineering school was at Lucas film, not working in the movies but working in home theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/first-career-i-had-right-out-of-engineering-school-was-at-lucas-film/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [There's nothing like experiencing the sights and sounds of a live robot combat event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/there-s-nothing-like-experiencing-the-sights-and-sounds-of-a-live/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [People always ask why I would leave ILM, and it's because 'Mythbusters' sounded like fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/people-always-ask-why-i-would-leave-ilm-and-it-s-because-mythbusters/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I think we're on too many government watch lists. We'd better let this one go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-think-we-re-on-too-many-government-watch-lists-we-d-better-let-this/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Walking the streets of Porto and speaking with the top engineers at Veniam, I am struck by the passion that they bring to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/walking-the-streets-of-porto-and-speaking-with-the-top-engineers-at/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I wasn't in the AV club. I was the AV club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-wasn-t-in-the-av-club-i-was-the-av-club/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I worked at ILM the same time Masi Oka was there. Who would have thought that two Asian-American nerds from ILM would be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-worked-at-ilm-the-same-time-masi-oka-was-there-who-would-have/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Everybody has stories about using duct tape. Of course, most don't try to lift a car with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/everybody-has-stories-about-using-duct-tape-of-course-most-don-t-try/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [There are plenty of myths out there that are either really expensive to do or incredibly difficult or complicated to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/there-are-plenty-of-myths-out-there-that-are-either-really-expensive/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-at-the-model-shop-i-couldn-t/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Not only will innovative technology create a more connected human race; it will normalize access to our most basic needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/not-only-will-innovative-technology-create-a-more-connected-human/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) [Explore all 51 Grant Imahara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## More Nothing quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. 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But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! 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