--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You mere device,\" he gnarled. \"You…" description: "\"“You mere device,\" he gnarled. \"You platitude! Your Gollux ex machina!”\" — James Thurber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/james-thurber-1534_fairy-tales_you-mere-device-he-gnarled-you-platitude_1044603.png" --- # You mere device," he gnarled. "You platitude! Your Gollux… ![“You mere device," he gnarled. "You platitude! Your Gollux ex machina!” quote by James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/james-thurber-1534_fairy-tales_you-mere-device-he-gnarled-you-platitude_1044603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/james-thurber-1534_fairy-tales_you-mere-device-he-gnarled-you-platitude_1044603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/james-thurber-1534_fairy-tales_you-mere-device-he-gnarled-you-platitude_1044603.png) > ““You mere device," he gnarled. "You platitude! Your Gollux ex machina!”” [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical jab at overused plot devices, mocking pretentiousness in storytelling. **In simple terms:** Mocking cliché plot twists. Key Takeaway Avoid lazy storytelling. Themes literature satire creativity Mood witty critical Type literary humorous When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative writing - film script analysis Key Concepts Narrative structure literary criticism humor Questions to Reflect On - How does satire affect engagement? - What makes a plot device feel fresh? A Different Perspective Satire may alienate some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ex Machina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ex-machina/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Whimsy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whimsy/) ## Related quotes > [“I am the Golux, the only Golux in the world and not a mere device”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-am-the-golux-the-only-golux-in-the-world-and-not-a-mere-device/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [The aphorism: a platitude that swerves, or slides all the way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-aphorism-a-platitude-that-swerves-or-slides-all-the-way-around/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“But that's not a very original idea, is it? It's really just a platitude ... sort of like a Florida sunset, Nevertheless, it happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/but-that-s-not-a-very-original-idea-is-it-it-s-really-just-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“ 'Better to have loved and lost,' my ass. Anyone parroting that little platitude had obviously never lost anyone of consequence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/better-to-have-loved-and-lost-my-ass-anyone-parroting-that-little/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [“PLATITUDE, n. The fundamental element and special glory of popular literature. A thought that snores in words that smoke. The wisdom of a million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/platitude-n-the-fundamental-element-and-special-glory-of-popular/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Funny how people despise platitudes, when they are usually the truest thing going. A thing has to be pretty true before it gets to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/funny-how-people-despise-platitudes-when-they-are-usually-the-truest/) [Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/) > [In modern life nothing produces such an effect as a good platitude. It makes the whole world kin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-modern-life-nothing-produces-such-an-effect-as-a-good-platitude-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Platitude: an idea (a) that is admitted to be true by everyone, and (b) that is not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/platitude-an-idea-a-that-is-admitted-to-be-true-by-everyone-and-b/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Nothing produces such an effect as a good platitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nothing-produces-such-an-effect-as-a-good-platitude/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Because “Platitude” was a language everyone spoke”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-long/because-platitude-was-a-language-everyone-spoke/) [Julie Anne Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-long/) > [applause, n. The echo of a platitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/applause-n-the-echo-of-a-platitude/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“I’m going mad with the knowledge that despite the fact that this is now a platitude, we’re repeating ourselves. Are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-buckley/i-m-going-mad-with-the-knowledge-that-despite-the-fact-that-this-is/) [Ray Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-buckley/) > [It is strange how long we rebel against a platitude until suddenly in a different lingo it looms up again as the only verity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-benedict/it-is-strange-how-long-we-rebel-against-a-platitude-until-suddenly-in/) [Ruth Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-benedict/) > [Unfortunately, a platitude is not a plan. So I am encouraging people to turn towards the Green Party if they're looking for a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/unfortunately-a-platitude-is-not-a-plan-so-i-am-encouraging-people-to/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [If your values don't alienate anyone, it is just platitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/if-your-values-don-t-alienate-anyone-it-is-just-platitude/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) ## More by James Thurber > [ Salvador \[Dali\] was brought up in Spain, a country colored by the legends of Hannibal, El Greco, and Cervantes. I was brought up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/salvador-dali-was-brought-up-in-spain-a-country-colored-by-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Her own mother lived the latter years of her life in the horrible suspicion that electricity was dripping invisibly all over the house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/her-own-mother-lived-the-latter-years-of-her-life-in-the-horrible/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“Against the may, the could be, and the should, folly 'tis to balance doubt or hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/against-the-may-the-could-be-and-the-should-folly-tis-to-balance/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“ There was an old coddle so molly, He talked in a glot that was poly, His gaws were so gew That his laps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/there-was-an-old-coddle-so-molly-he-talked-in-a-glot-that-was-poly/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“you might as well fall on your face as lean over too far backwards”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/you-might-as-well-fall-on-your-face-as-lean-over-too-far-backwards/) [james thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [I myself have known some profoundly thoughtful dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-myself-have-known-some-profoundly-thoughtful-dogs/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [He knows all about art, but he doesn't know what he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/he-knows-all-about-art-but-he-doesn-t-know-what-he-likes/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/all-men-should-strive-to-learn-before-they-die-what-they-are-running/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Quick, name some towns in New Jersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/quick-name-some-towns-in-new-jersey/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Looks can be deceiving; it's eating that's believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/looks-can-be-deceiving-it-s-eating-that-s-believing/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“I don’t understand,” said the scientist, “why you lemmings all rush down to the sea and drown yourselves.” “How curious,” said the lemming. “The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-don-t-understand-said-the-scientist-why-you-lemmings-all-rush-down/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Humor does not include sarcasm, invalid irony, sardonicism, innuendo, or any other form of cruelty. When these things are raised to a high point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/humor-does-not-include-sarcasm-invalid-irony-sardonicism-innuendo-or/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Where most of us end up there is no knowing, but the hellbent get where they are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/where-most-of-us-end-up-there-is-no-knowing-but-the-hellbent-get/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Comedy has to be done en clair. You can't blunt the edge of wit or the point of satire with obscurity. Try to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/comedy-has-to-be-done-en-clair-you-can-t-blunt-the-edge-of-wit-or-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) [Explore all 229 James Thurber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) ## More Fairy tales quotes > [“From that time on they both looked forward to sleeping together. I might even say that the goal of their lovemaking was not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/from-that-time-on-they-both-looked-forward-to-sleeping-together-i/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [I have always been fascinated by the supernatural elements in stories, whether fairy tales, myths, film or literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/i-have-always-been-fascinated-by-the-supernatural-elements-in-stories/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [“If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where the fishboy appears and Diana shoots him through the heart. Because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-moskowitz/if-this-were-a-fairy-tale-this-would-be-the-part-where-the-fishboy/) [Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-moskowitz/) > [“Yes sir, the fish was left in place of the crystal ball. It's been bagged and tagged for analysis.” Great. Now we have another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-f-stewart/yes-sir-the-fish-was-left-in-place-of-the-crystal-ball-it-s-been/) [A.F. Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-f-stewart/) > [Here is the world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/here-is-the-world-of-imagination-hopes-and-dreams-in-this-timeless/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Look at Jane Austen. Her characters derive in a reasonably straight line from fairy tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davies/look-at-jane-austen-her-characters-derive-in-a-reasonably-straight/) [Andrew Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davies/) > [Letters crossing in the post, unfamiliar tunes heard three times in one day, the way that blows of fate descend upon the same bowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/letters-crossing-in-the-post-unfamiliar-tunes-heard-three-times-in/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [“What the Boy chiefly dabbled in was natural history and fairy tales, and he just took them as they came, in a sandwichy sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/what-the-boy-chiefly-dabbled-in-was-natural-history-and-fairy-tales/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [I grew up watching monster movies and horror movies, which I felt were like fairy tales and I think this always spoke to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-grew-up-watching-monster-movies-and-horror-movies-which-i-felt-were/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [Here about the beach I wandered, nourishing a youth sublime With the fairy tales of science, and the long result of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/here-about-the-beach-i-wandered-nourishing-a-youth-sublime-with-the/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“I've been very influenced by folklore, fairy tales, and folk ballads, so I love all the classic works based on these things -- like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/i-ve-been-very-influenced-by-folklore-fairy-tales-and-folk-ballads-so/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once I thought fairy tales were lies or worse promises spoken yet meant to be broken intent is all. Why do grown ups feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justice-fitzgerald/once-i-thought-fairy-tales-were-lies-or-worse-promises-spoken-yet/) [Justice Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justice-fitzgerald/) > [Fairy tales read before bed tend to make me dream. They're all quite violent stories, as are my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/fairy-tales-read-before-bed-tend-to-make-me-dream-they-re-all-quite/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) [Browse all 1,070 Fairy tales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You mere device,\" he gnarled. \"You platitude! 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