--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knows more about science than we do…" description: "\"“He knows more about science than we do, and he's a hundred years in the past. He says we depend too much on machines. All we know how to do is press b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/nancy-farmer-12001_computers_he-knows-more-about-science-than-we-do-a_2115711.jpg" --- # He knows more about science than we do, and he's a hundred… ![“He knows more about science than we do, and he's a hundred years in the past. He says we depend too much on machines. All we know how to do is press buttons, but he knows how the buttons work.” quote by Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/nancy-farmer-12001_computers_he-knows-more-about-science-than-we-do-a_2115711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/nancy-farmer-12001_computers_he-knows-more-about-science-than-we-do-a_2115711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/nancy-farmer-12001_computers_he-knows-more-about-science-than-we-do-a_2115711.jpg) > ““He knows more about science than we do, and he's a hundred years in the past. He says we depend too much on machines. All we know how to do is press buttons, but he knows how the buttons work.”” [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Farmer suggests that despite being a century behind, a figure understands machines better than modern users who merely press buttons **In simple terms:** Even outdated perspectives can reveal deeper tech understanding than superficial modern use Key Takeaway Seek deeper comprehension of technology beyond surface interaction Themes science technology humanity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - software development - education - policy making Key Concepts systems thinking technological literacy automation Questions to Reflect On - What practical steps can improve our tech literacy? - How does generational knowledge affect innovation? A Different Perspective It may overstate the gap between generations and underestimate current expertise ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s strange. He knows more about science than we do, and he’s a hundred years in the past. He says we depend too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/it-s-strange-he-knows-more-about-science-than-we-do-and-he-s-a/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [It is very seldom that the same man knows much of science, and about the things that were known before science came.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-dunsany/it-is-very-seldom-that-the-same-man-knows-much-of-science-and-about/) [Lord Dunsany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-dunsany/) > [“William knows that science and magic are the same thing; magic is only science that hasn’t been explained yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/william-knows-that-science-and-magic-are-the-same-thing-magic-is-only/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [The dead have no ears, no answering machines that we know of, still we call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hicok/the-dead-have-no-ears-no-answering-machines-that-we-know-of-still-we/) [Bob Hicok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hicok/) > [William knows that science and magic are the same thing; magic is only science that hasn't been explained yet. Tonight he has made chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshilyn-jackson/william-knows-that-science-and-magic-are-the-same-thing-magic-is-only-2/) [Joshilyn Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshilyn-jackson/) > [“All machines know that humans are happiest when they think least.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-machines-know-that-humans-are-happiest-when-they-think-least/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm good with machines. 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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/) > [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/) ## More by Nancy Farmer > [No one can tell the difference between a clone and a human. That's because there isn't any difference. 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They're only sad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/do-your-zombies-eat-brains-are-they-horrible-and-scary-they-re-only/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“I am one for whom dangers are play- things One who empties men of their strength as a nut from its shell The charms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/i-am-one-for-whom-dangers-are-play-things-one-who-empties-men-of/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“He's a scientist, and they know everything. Religion is crap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/he-s-a-scientist-and-they-know-everything-religion-is-crap/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“The brain is shaped by the experiences of the body, and the body is shaped by the brain. 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'I want...I want...,' she whispered to herself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/the-other-girls-in-the-village-never-felt-restless-nhamo-was-like-a/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“Life and death are in constant battle. There is no way in this world for happiness to exist alone...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/life-and-death-are-in-constant-battle-there-is-no-way-in-this-world/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [Slow people are just paying close attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/slow-people-are-just-paying-close-attention/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“I am she who lifts the mountains When she goes to hunt, Who wears mamba for a headband And a lion for a belt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/i-am-she-who-lifts-the-mountains-when-she-goes-to-hunt-who-wears/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“She took to reading with a fervor so extreme, Baba Joseph had to take the books from her hands by force. 'Your eyes are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/she-took-to-reading-with-a-fervor-so-extreme-baba-joseph-had-to-take/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [“How much wickedness could you do in the service of good before it turned into pure evil?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/how-much-wickedness-could-you-do-in-the-service-of-good-before-it/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [A little extra forgiveness never hurts," said Matt, quoting one of Celia's favorite sayings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/a-little-extra-forgiveness-never-hurts-said-matt-quoting-one-of-celia/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) [Explore all 57 Nancy Farmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) ## 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. 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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. 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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. 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