Cigarette Quote by John Dos Passos
“When the typewriter stops in a New York office everybody's embarrassed; men start to quarrel or to make love to the stenographer or drop lighted cigarettes in the wastebasket.”
About This Quote
Depicts a chaotic office scene where a malfunctioning typewriter leads to embarrassment and a range of reactions, from conflict to intimacy.
In simple terms: Shows how a small problem can cause varied human responses.
Key Takeaway
Expect unpredictable outcomes from minor disruptions.
Themes
chaos
human behavior
workplace
Mood
wry
observational
Type
satirical
narrative
When to use this quote
- office environment
- stress
- interpersonal relations
Key Concepts
social dynamics
awkwardness
humor
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people react so differently to the same incident?
- What does this reveal about workplace culture?
