--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She was a defective child-bearing…" description: "\"“She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed herself automatically while giving birth to Dwayne. The printer disappeared. He was a disappe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg" --- # She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed… ![“She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed herself automatically while giving birth to Dwayne. The printer disappeared. He was a disappearing machine.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg) > ““She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed herself automatically while giving birth to Dwayne. The printer disappeared. He was a disappearing machine.”” [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote sat humanity’s tendency to view people as machines, reducing individuality and suffering to mechanical processes. **In simple terms:** People are not machines; they suffer. Key Takeaway Recognize and value human complexity. Themes humanity dehumanization technology compassion Mood somber reflective Type literary critical When to use this quote - family dynamics - medical ethics - parenting - social critique Key Concepts existentialism mechanical metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does mechanistic language affect empathy? - What responsibilities arise from viewing others as machines? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex social issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Giving birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-birth/) ## Related quotes > [“She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed herself automatically while giving birth to Dwayne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machine-she-destroyed-herself-2/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Whereas, once again, the machine destroyed everything: you were killed discreetly, with a little shame and with great precision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/whereas-once-again-the-machine-destroyed-everything-you-were-killed/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“When a human being is born the first thing he does is crying.. The rest of his life he'll spend discovering why...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-tanghe/when-a-human-being-is-born-the-first-thing-he-does-is-crying-the-rest/) Erik Tanghe > [In my life, it would probably be giving birth to my daughter. That probably is the most, the thing that moved me the most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/in-my-life-it-would-probably-be-giving-birth-to-my-daughter-that/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [“The theater, bringing impersonal masks to life, is only for those who are virile enough to create new life: either as a conflict of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jarry/the-theater-bringing-impersonal-masks-to-life-is-only-for-those-who/) [Alfred Jarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jarry/) > [Giving birth to something that could possibly change the lives of millions of people for possibly decades, hundreds of years, whatever the length of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/giving-birth-to-something-that-could-possibly-change-the-lives-of/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [“...it's technically impossible for a woman to argue against feminism. Without feminism you wouldn't be allowed to have a debate on a woman's place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/it-s-technically-impossible-for-a-woman-to-argue-against-feminism/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [“At the moment of giving birth to a child, is the mother separate from the child? You should study not only that you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen-zenji/at-the-moment-of-giving-birth-to-a-child-is-the-mother-separate-from/) [Dogen Zenji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen-zenji/) > [Giving birth to my daughter was certainly memorable, like a slap in the face. I arrived at the hospital in total denial, having not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/giving-birth-to-my-daughter-was-certainly-memorable-like-a-slap-in/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [What is your future? Shortly after giving birth to you if your parents kicked you out of the house is \| now you seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/what-is-your-future-shortly-after-giving-birth-to-you-if-your-parents/) Mak\_786 > [“It's like I'm giving birth from my mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmytry-karpov/it-s-like-i-m-giving-birth-from-my-mouth/) Dmytry Karpov > [One in five women experience a mental health condition during pregnancy, or in the year after giving birth. It can affect any woman. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciana-berger/one-in-five-women-experience-a-mental-health-condition-during/) [Luciana Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciana-berger/) > [I rang my mother to thank her for giving birth to me and she said, "What choice had I? You were in there, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-rang-my-mother-to-thank-her-for-giving-birth-to-me-and-she-said/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr > [“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sakes. Now, I mean, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/practicing-an-art-no-matter-how-well-or-badly-is-a-way-to-make-your/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before... He is full of murderous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/beware-of-the-man-who-works-hard-to-learn-something-learns-it-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/i-myself-prefer-to-laugh-since-there-is-less-cleaning-up-to-do/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“Maturity...is knowing what your limitations are...Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/maturity-is-knowing-what-your-limitations-are-maturity-is-a-bitter/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“I guess that isn't the right word," she said. She was used to apologizing for her use of language. She had been encouraged to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/i-guess-that-isn-t-the-right-word-she-said-she-was-used-to/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“And now please note that I have raised my right hand. And that means that I'm not kidding, that whatever I say next I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/and-now-please-note-that-i-have-raised-my-right-hand-and-that-means/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“Life happens too fast for you ever to think about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/life-happens-too-fast-for-you-ever-to-think-about-it/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) > [“A plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive, at least a little bit…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/a-plausible-mission-of-artists-is-to-make-people-appreciate-being/) [Kurt Vonnegut, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) [Explore all 9 Kurt Vonnegut, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed herself automatically while giving birth to Dwayne. The printer disappeared. He was a disappearing machine.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machine-she-destroyed-herself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machine-she-destroyed-herself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2-44078_computers_she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machin_640280.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She was a defective child-bearing machine. She destroyed herself automatically while giving birth to Dwayne…” — Kurt Vonnegut, Jr", "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": "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“She was a defective child-bearing machine....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machine-she-destroyed-herself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr-2/she-was-a-defective-child-bearing-machine-she-destroyed-herself/#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 } } ] } ```