--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like sewing machines. I don't…" description: "\"I don't like sewing machines. I don't understand how a needle with a thread going through the tip of it can interlock the thread by jamming itself into..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg" --- # I don't like sewing machines. I don't understand how a… ![“I don't like sewing machines. I don't understand how a needle with a thread going through the tip of it can interlock the thread by jamming itself into a little goddamn spool. It's contrary to nature and it irritates me.” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg) > “I don't like sewing machines. I don't understand how a needle with a thread going through the tip of it can interlock the thread by jamming itself into a little goddamn spool. It's contrary to nature and it irritates me.” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker finds the mechanical process of sewing machines counterintuitive and irritating, seeing it as defying natural expectations. **In simple terms:** Sewing machines seem illogical to the speaker. Key Takeaway Accept that some technologies feel strange at first. Themes technology frustration perception Mood irritated curious Type observation personal When to use this quote - learning to sew - evaluating tools - design critique Key Concepts mechanical design human intuition Questions to Reflect On - What makes this mechanism feel unnatural? - Can you find a simpler analogy? A Different Perspective Understanding may improve with study of mechanics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Like Sewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-sewing-5706760/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Needle Thread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needle-thread-773898/) [Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needles/) [Sewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sewing/) [Sewing Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sewing-machines-4818153/) [Thread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thread/) [Thread Jamming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thread-jamming-6141923/) ## Related quotes > [Writing is like sewing together what I call these 'buttons,' these bits and pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/writing-is-like-sewing-together-what-i-call-these-buttons-these-bits/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [My family has always made clothes. Growing up I can remember sewing machines being everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/my-family-has-always-made-clothes-growing-up-i-can-remember-sewing/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [One has to look out for engineers - they begin with sewing machines and end up with the atomic bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-pagnol/one-has-to-look-out-for-engineers-they-begin-with-sewing-machines-and/) [Marcel Pagnol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-pagnol/) > [“I am reminded that every day I have the chance to pick up a needle and some thread and add to the story. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerusalem-jackson-greer/i-am-reminded-that-every-day-i-have-the-chance-to-pick-up-a-needle/) [Jerusalem Jackson Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerusalem-jackson-greer/) > [My tears must stop, for every drop Hinders needle and thread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/my-tears-must-stop-for-every-drop-hinders-needle-and-thread/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Needle and thread flesh and bone Spit and sinew, heartbreak is home. Your suture lines, they sparkle like diamonds Bright stars to light my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/needle-and-thread-flesh-and-bone-spit-and-sinew-heartbreak-is-home/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Now, since everything else is furnished with the exact amount of needle and thread required to maintain its being, it is in truth incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/now-since-everything-else-is-furnished-with-the-exact-amount-of/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [With fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat in unwomanly rags, Plying her needle and thread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/with-fingers-weary-and-worn-with-eyelids-heavy-and-red-a-woman-sat-in/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Among the worst examples is that of the Alberni Indian Residential School (British Columbia) where, during the 1920s, children caught talking Indian suffered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-churchill/among-the-worst-examples-is-that-of-the-alberni-indian-residential/) [Ward Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-churchill/) > [God is not remote from us. He is at the point of my pen, my (pick) shovel, my paint brush, my (sewing) needle -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/god-is-not-remote-from-us-he-is-at-the-point-of-my-pen-my-pick-shovel/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [No one expects a woman busy at her sewing to pay attention to what’s being said around her. Nevermind if a man’s mother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/no-one-expects-a-woman-busy-at-her-sewing-to-pay-attention-to-what-s/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [So here I am, sending a two-ounce mouse down into a dungeon with a sewing needle to save a human princess, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/so-here-i-am-sending-a-two-ounce-mouse-down-into-a-dungeon-with-a/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [What drives me crazy is that I can't bring my needle and thread on a plane. I really like to sew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/what-drives-me-crazy-is-that-i-can-t-bring-my-needle-and-thread-on-a/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [“Feel like you are falling apart at the seams? If so, grab a needle and thread , and learn how to sew.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-szymanski/feel-like-you-are-falling-apart-at-the-seams-if-so-grab-a-needle-and/) [Christine Szymanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-szymanski/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) ## More by Neal Stephenson > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. The ability to move, far from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-insects-here-see-you-as-a-big-slab-of-animated-but-not-very-well/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Space and Time! Two minor omissions that no one is likely to notice," grumbled Newton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/space-and-time-two-minor-omissions-that-no-one-is-likely-to-notice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [See, the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. Promise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/hey-shaftoe-says-if-we-surrender-to-you-you-ll-kill-us-right-yes-if/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“You’ve probably heard the expression that the Industry feeds off of biomass, like a whale straining krill from the ocean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-ve-probably-heard-the-expression-that-the-industry-feeds-off-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Interesting things happen along borders - transitions - not in the middle where everything is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/interesting-things-happen-along-borders-transitions-not-in-the-middle/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“and people could only make sense of complicated matters through stories. Likewise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/and-people-could-only-make-sense-of-complicated-matters-through/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Van Eck phreaking,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/van-eck-phreaking/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) [Explore all 633 Neal Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "I don't like sewing machines. I don't understand how a needle with a thread going through the tip of it can interlock the thread by jamming itself into a little goddamn spool. It's contrary to nature and it irritates me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Stephenson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-understand-how-a-needle-with-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-understand-how-a-needle-with-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/neal-stephenson-362_computers_i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-und_2423585.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't like sewing machines. I don't understand how a needle with a thread going through the tip of it can…” — Neal Stephenson", "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": "Neal Stephenson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't like sewing machines. I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-understand-how-a-needle-with-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-don-t-like-sewing-machines-i-don-t-understand-how-a-needle-with-a/#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 } } ] } ```