--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, a sleeping drunkard Up in Central…" description: "\"“Oh, a sleeping drunkard Up in Central Park, And a lion-hunter In the jungle dark, And a Chinese dentist, And a British queen-- All fit together In the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/kurt-vonnegut-41_bokonon_oh-a-sleeping-drunkard-up-in-central-par_848065.jpg" --- # Oh, a sleeping drunkard Up in Central Park, And a… ![“Oh, a sleeping drunkard Up in Central Park, And a lion-hunter In the jungle dark, And a Chinese dentist, And a British queen-- All fit together In the same machine. Nice, nice, very nice; Nice, nice, very nice; Nice, nice, very nice-- So many different people In the same device.” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/kurt-vonnegut-41_bokonon_oh-a-sleeping-drunkard-up-in-central-par_848065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/kurt-vonnegut-41_bokonon_oh-a-sleeping-drunkard-up-in-central-par_848065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/kurt-vonnegut-41_bokonon_oh-a-sleeping-drunkard-up-in-central-par_848065.jpg) > ““Oh, a sleeping drunkard Up in Central Park, And a lion-hunter In the jungle dark, And a Chinese dentist, And a British queen-- All fit together In the same machine. Nice, nice, very nice; Nice, nice, very nice; Nice, nice, very nice-- So many different people In the same device.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Diverse, seemingly unrelated individuals are interconnected within a larger system, highlighting unity amid chaos. **In simple terms:** All people are part of one big machine. Key Takeaway Recognize interdependence, respect differences. Themes unity diversity interconnectedness Mood playful contemplative Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - urban life - team projects - global issues - family dynamics Key Concepts Systems theory existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you contribute to the larger whole? - What role do you play in society? A Different Perspective Not all connections are positive; conflict can arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bokonon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bokonon/) [Cats cradle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats-cradle-28746/) [Central park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/central-park/) [Different people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-people/) [Machine Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine-nice-717837/) [People Device](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-device-717839/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Sleeping Drunkard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeping-drunkard-717838/) [Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vonnegut/) ## Related quotes > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/unusual-travel-suggestions-are-dancing-lessons-from-god/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before," Bokonon tells us. "He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/beware-of-the-man-who-works-hard-to-learn-something-learns-it-and-3/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Oh, a lion hunter in the jungle dark, And a sleeping drunkard up in central park, and a Chinese dentist and a British queen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/oh-a-lion-hunter-in-the-jungle-dark-and-a-sleeping-drunkard-up-in/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Nice, nice, very nice-- So many different people in the same device.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/nice-nice-very-nice-so-many-different-people-in-the-same-device/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Anything can make me stop and look and wonder, and sometimes learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/anything-can-make-me-stop-and-look-and-wonder-and-sometimes-learn/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I wanted all things to seem to make some sense, So we could all be happy, yes, instead of tense. And I made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-wanted-all-things-to-seem-to-make-some-sense-so-we-could-all-be-2/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Man created the checkerboard; God created the karass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/man-created-the-checkerboard-god-created-the-karass/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Oh, a very sorry people, yes, Did I find here. Oh, they had no music, And they had no beer. And, oh, everywhere Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/oh-a-very-sorry-people-yes-did-i-find-here-oh-they-had-no-music-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [They were lovebirds. They entertained each other endlessly with little gifts: sights worth seeing out the plane window, amusing or instructive bits from things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-lovebirds-they-entertained-each-other-endlessly-with-little/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The words were a paraphrase of the suggestion of Jesus: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's." Bokonon's paraphrase was this: "Pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-words-were-a-paraphrase-of-the-suggestion-of-jesus-render/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If I am ever put to death on the hook, expect a very human performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-i-am-ever-put-to-death-on-the-hook-expect-a-very-human-performance/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Live by the foma(Harmless untruths) that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/live-by-the-foma-harmless-untruths-that-make-you-brave-and-kind-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you coming home, dad?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/and-the-cat-s-in-the-cradle-and-the-silver-spoon-little-boy-blue-and/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Bokonon quotes > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [The words were a paraphrase of the suggestion of Jesus: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's." Bokonon's paraphrase was this: "Pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-words-were-a-paraphrase-of-the-suggestion-of-jesus-render/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [If I am ever put to death on the hook, expect a very human performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/if-i-am-ever-put-to-death-on-the-hook-expect-a-very-human-performance/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ She was a fool, and so am I, and so is anyone who thinks he sees what God is Doing, \[writes Bokonon\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-was-a-fool-and-so-am-i-and-so-is-anyone-who-thinks-he-sees-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wanted all things to seem to make some sense, So we could all be happy, yes, instead of tense. And I made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-wanted-all-things-to-seem-to-make-some-sense-so-we-could-all-be-2/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-of-the-true-things-i-am-about-to-tell-you-are-shameless-lies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before," Bokonon tells us. "He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/beware-of-the-man-who-works-hard-to-learn-something-learns-it-and-3/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [They were lovebirds. They entertained each other endlessly with little gifts: sights worth seeing out the plane window, amusing or instructive bits from things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-lovebirds-they-entertained-each-other-endlessly-with-little/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Oh, a very sorry people, yes, Did I find here. Oh, they had no music, And they had no beer. And, oh, everywhere Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/oh-a-very-sorry-people-yes-did-i-find-here-oh-they-had-no-music-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Man created the checkerboard; God created the karass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/man-created-the-checkerboard-god-created-the-karass/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/unusual-travel-suggestions-are-dancing-lessons-from-god/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Live by the foma(Harmless untruths) that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/live-by-the-foma-harmless-untruths-that-make-you-brave-and-kind-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Browse all 14 Bokonon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bokonon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Oh, a sleeping drunkard Up in Central Park, And a lion-hunter In the jungle dark, And a Chinese dentist, And a British queen-- All fit together In the same machine. 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