--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Technology adds nothing to art. Two…" description: "\"Technology adds nothing to art. Two thousand years ago, I could tell you a story, and at any point during the story I could stop, and ask, Now do you w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/penn-jillette-1046_add_technology-adds-nothing-to-art-two-thous_2074372.png" --- # Technology adds nothing to art. Two thousand years ago, I… ![“Technology adds nothing to art. Two thousand years ago, I could tell you a story, and at any point during the story I could stop, and ask, Now do you want the hero to be kidnapped, or not? But that would, of course, have ruined the story. Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back…” quote by Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/penn-jillette-1046_add_technology-adds-nothing-to-art-two-thous_2074372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/penn-jillette-1046_add_technology-adds-nothing-to-art-two-thous_2074372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d96/penn-jillette-1046_add_technology-adds-nothing-to-art-two-thous_2074372.png) > “Technology adds nothing to art. Two thousand years ago, I could tell you a story, and at any point during the story I could stop, and ask, Now do you want the hero to be kidnapped, or not? But that would, of course, have ruined the story. Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.” [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technology cannot replace the interactive, imaginative choices that make storytelling unique to human experience. **In simple terms:** Technology can't replace human storytelling choices. Key Takeaway Value human imagination over tech shortcuts. Themes art storytelling technology creativity Mood thoughtful analytical critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - live theater - writing workshops - game design - creative education Key Concepts media theory interactive narrative human cognition Questions to Reflect On - How does interactivity shape narrative? - What limits does technology impose on storytelling? A Different Perspective Tech can enhance but not fully replicate human imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/part-of-the-experience-of-being-entertained-is-sitting-back-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/instead-of-making-up-stories-stay-with-the-facts-for-example-i-am/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [A lot of the time, because we don't have many Latinx scenarios on the landscape, not just in television or film and other media,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-saracho/a-lot-of-the-time-because-we-don-t-have-many-latinx-scenarios-on-the/) [Tanya Saracho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-saracho/) > [I have always wanted to tell my story - or, more to the point, my side of the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-ringgold/i-have-always-wanted-to-tell-my-story-or-more-to-the-point-my-side-of/) [Faith Ringgold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-ringgold/) > [“How to tell a story? First find a point of view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mcauley/how-to-tell-a-story-first-find-a-point-of-view/) [Paul McAuley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mcauley/) > [“The story was gradually taking shape. Pilon liked it this way. It ruined a story to have it all come out quickly. The good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-story-was-gradually-taking-shape-pilon-liked-it-this-way-it/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [When I create a story, I can make it however funny, sad, or happy I want it to be. And when I read, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marley-dias/when-i-create-a-story-i-can-make-it-however-funny-sad-or-happy-i-want/) [Marley Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marley-dias/) > [“Science can’t predict what stories my children’s great grandchildren will tell. The ultimate story about the experience of our journey into consciousness is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-schaeffer/science-can-t-predict-what-stories-my-children-s-great-grandchildren/) [Frank Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-schaeffer/) > [“Welcome players… to both the story and experience of a survival-adventure ‘game’ that has become an extra reality for so many. It’s surely worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ade-mcoran-campbell/welcome-players-to-both-the-story-and-experience-of-a-survival/) Ade McOran-Campbell > [I shall begin my story with an experience I had when I was ten and attended our small town's Latin school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/i-shall-begin-my-story-with-an-experience-i-had-when-i-was-ten-and/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“To see imperfection to see beauty, not because of what it is but because of the story that will follow. A story you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-racek/to-see-imperfection-to-see-beauty-not-because-of-what-it-is-but/) Chase Racek > [I've had a little Hollywood experience, and there's nothing like the Disney story experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/i-ve-had-a-little-hollywood-experience-and-there-s-nothing-like-the/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I write - and read - for the sake of the story... My basic test for any story is: 'Would I want to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-write-and-read-for-the-sake-of-the-story-my-basic-test-for-any/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Don't just read, insert yourself into the story and experience the journey as if you were written into it! – Lynn Veevers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-veevers/don-t-just-read-insert-yourself-into-the-story-and-experience-the/) Lynn Veevers > [Everybody has their story - at some point you have to say, 'This is who I am: Now it's up to me to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/everybody-has-their-story-at-some-point-you-have-to-say-this-is-who-i/) [Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/) ## More by Penn Jillette > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/part-of-the-experience-of-being-entertained-is-sitting-back-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [That whole 99% thing, they are all in the 1% of the world. Every one of them pays a cellphone bill that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/that-whole-99-thing-they-are-all-in-the-1-of-the-world-every-one-of/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I will forever stick up for Catholics and Christians in general. With a small number of very horrible exceptions, they do play by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-will-forever-stick-up-for-catholics-and-christians-in-general-with/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm always surprised when the corporate world does stupid things, because they're often not very stupid in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-always-surprised-when-the-corporate-world-does-stupid-things/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It's only the losers named 'Dave' that think having an unusual name is bad, and who cares what they think? They're named 'Dave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-s-only-the-losers-named-dave-that-think-having-an-unusual-name-is/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [The only secret of magic is that I'm willing to work harder on it than you think it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-only-secret-of-magic-is-that-i-m-willing-to-work-harder-on-it/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Well, it's not really the right word, but freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/well-it-s-not-really-the-right-word-but-freedom-is-kind-of-a-hobby/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [My whole take on libertarianism is simply that I don't know what's best for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/my-whole-take-on-libertarianism-is-simply-that-i-don-t-know-what-s/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Freedom means the right to be stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/freedom-means-the-right-to-be-stupid/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“Once you've condoned faith in general, you've condoned any crazy shit done because of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/once-you-ve-condoned-faith-in-general-you-ve-condoned-any-crazy-shit/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) [Explore all 302 Penn Jillette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## More Add quotes > [Most marriages don't add two people together. 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The well-adapted drop off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/a-modern-man-has-nothing-to-add-to-modernism-if-only-because-he-has/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Observation and theory get on best when they are mixed together, both helping one another in the pursuit of truth. It is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-eddington/observation-and-theory-get-on-best-when-they-are-mixed-together-both/) [Arthur Eddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-eddington/) > [I may add that we have more than once stated our willingness to conclude nonaggression pacts with the states neighboring our own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-may-add-that-we-have-more-than-once-stated-our-willingness-to/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' 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