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Computers Quote by Philip Roth

“This is called a piqué machine, it sews that finest stitch, called piqué, requires far more skill than the other stitches… This is called a polishing machine and that is called a stretcher and you are called honey and I am called Daddy and this is called living and the other is called dying and…” quote by Philip Roth
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““This is called a piqué machine, it sews that finest stitch, called piqué, requires far more skill than the other stitches… This is called a polishing machine and that is called a stretcher and you are called honey and I am called Daddy and this is called living and the other is called dying and this is called madness and this is called mourning and this is called hell, pure hell, and you have to have strong ties to be able to stick it out, this is called trying-to-go-on-as-though-nothing-has-happened and this is called paying-the-full-price-but-in-God's-name-for-what, this is called wanting-to-be-dead-and-wanting-to-find-her-and-to-kill-her-and-to-save-her-from-whatever-she-is-going-through-wherever-on-earth-she-may-be-at-this-moment, this unbridled outpouring is called blotting-out-everything and it does not work, I am half insane, the shattering force of that bomb is too great ... And then they were back at his office again.””

Philip Roth

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, 2004

The passage strings together chaotic metaphors describing life's hardships, relationships, and existential despair.

In simple terms: Life is a tangled mess of pain and effort.

Key Takeaway

Accept chaos, seek meaning.

Themes

chaos relationships despair

Mood

somber reflective

Type

novelistic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal crisis
  • family dynamics
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

existentialism absurdity psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “madness” represent here?
  • How do you find purpose amid turmoil?
A Different Perspective

The dense metaphor may overwhelm readers.

2.2 out of 5 (7 ratings)

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