--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine all of L.A. filled with windup…" description: "\"“Imagine all of L.A. filled with windup men wandering empty-headed and waiting for orders and directions and purpose. That’s L.A. in a nutshell. A city..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/richard-kadrey-3619_desire_imagine-all-of-l-a-filled-with-windup-me_3231411.jpg" --- # Imagine all of L.A. filled with windup men wandering… ![“Imagine all of L.A. filled with windup men wandering empty-headed and waiting for orders and directions and purpose. That’s L.A. in a nutshell. A city of driven creatures, but no one is a hundred percent sure what they’re driven toward. Wealth. Fame. Power. Love. Revenge. These are all the obvious…” quote by Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/richard-kadrey-3619_desire_imagine-all-of-l-a-filled-with-windup-me_3231411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/richard-kadrey-3619_desire_imagine-all-of-l-a-filled-with-windup-me_3231411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/richard-kadrey-3619_desire_imagine-all-of-l-a-filled-with-windup-me_3231411.jpg) > ““Imagine all of L.A. filled with windup men wandering empty-headed and waiting for orders and directions and purpose. That’s L.A. in a nutshell. A city of driven creatures, but no one is a hundred percent sure what they’re driven toward. Wealth. Fame. Power. Love. Revenge. These are all the obvious end points for the citizens of a spectral city, but none of them quite encompass a final goal. That’s more fragile. Something that slips away like smoke the moment it’s in your hands. It’s a moonshine cocktail of desperation and desire, the certainty that you can find perfection through sheer willpower and the cold terror that if you do reach the goal it will have twisted into something new. A new fevered need born of the search for this one. Searching for the next goal will breed another. And on and on. L.A. and Kill City full of Pinocchios with whirring gears for brains, all wanting to be real boys but sunk in the certainty that they’ll never become anything because they’re nothing. They came from nothing and are headed for a further and harder nothing.”” [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote portrays Los Angeles as a restless, goal‑driven metropolis where inhabitants chase ever‑shifting ambitions, never finding lasting fulfillment. **In simple terms:** L.A. is a city of endless, unfulfilled pursuits. Key Takeaway Recognize the emptiness of relentless chasing. Themes urban life existential dread ambition illusion search for meaning Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career ambition - creative projects - relationship goals - personal growth Key Concepts nihilism consumerism identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - What drives you beyond material success? - How do you define true fulfillment? A Different Perspective The metaphor of “Pinocchios” may oversimplify complex human motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ## Related quotes > [She'd assumed she'd be married and have kids by this age, that she would be grooming her own daughter for this, as her friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/she-d-assumed-she-d-be-married-and-have-kids-by-this-age-that-she/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [There is no great danger to politics in the desire for certainty at any price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-crick/there-is-no-great-danger-to-politics-in-the-desire-for-certainty-at/) [Bernard Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-crick/) > [“Many fear this side of the door. We crave stability and certainty, so we keep both feet rooted in what we know, believing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/many-fear-this-side-of-the-door-we-crave-stability-and-certainty-so/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [It's hard to kill a city, but easy to kill a company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-west/it-s-hard-to-kill-a-city-but-easy-to-kill-a-company/) [Geoffrey West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-west/) > [“It’s extremely difficult to kill a city! On”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-west/it-s-extremely-difficult-to-kill-a-city-on/) [Geoffrey West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-west/) > [“Soon, I found myself locked in my own cage of fear and desperation, where my experience of life was getting smaller and smaller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/soon-i-found-myself-locked-in-my-own-cage-of-fear-and-desperation/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The desperation was coming off you in waves. You were all but begging to dance with me. I am doing you a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/the-desperation-was-coming-off-you-in-waves-you-were-all-but-begging/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In exams, we look up for inspiration, down for desperation, left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/in-exams-we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-left-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Who among us does not move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/who-among-us-does-not-move-through-life-with-the-hidden-sense-maybe/) [Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/) > [Lol, the thirst on SQ is serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maher/lol-the-thirst-on-sq-is-serious/) [Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maher/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) ## More by Richard Kadrey > [“Maybe he was destined to die under the fading shadow of a plastic dinosaur surrounded by pickpockets, hookers, and panhandlers, but at least he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/maybe-he-was-destined-to-die-under-the-fading-shadow-of-a-plastic/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“To the dead. Let’s think of them always, but not join them too soon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/to-the-dead-let-s-think-of-them-always-but-not-join-them-too-soon/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“Now you are thinking like a thief. Fewer guns and more exits. We'll cure your cowboy ways yet. (Vidocq)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/now-you-are-thinking-like-a-thief-fewer-guns-and-more-exits-we-ll/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [If Donald Trump and the Wicked Witch of the West had a kid, it would be Jayne-Anne. She looks like a librarian with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/if-donald-trump-and-the-wicked-witch-of-the-west-had-a-kid-it-would/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“The clerk is looking at me. His expression hasn't changed. What I want to do is punch a hole in the front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/the-clerk-is-looking-at-me-his-expression-hasn-t-changed-what-i-want/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [The dead think they can get away with anything because you'll feel sorry for them. If you play cards with the dead, make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/the-dead-think-they-can-get-away-with-anything-because-you-ll-feel/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [I tap a Malediction out of the box, fire it up, and puff. It tastes like a tire fire in a candy factory next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/i-tap-a-malediction-out-of-the-box-fire-it-up-and-puff-it-tastes-like/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“Besides Getting my ass kicked, my main accomplishment on this trip has been to massacre an incredible number of completely innocent clothes. I'm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/besides-getting-my-ass-kicked-my-main-accomplishment-on-this-trip-has/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“So far, being dead is about as much fun as a barbed-wire G-string. Yes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/so-far-being-dead-is-about-as-much-fun-as-a-barbed-wire-g-string-yes/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [ “Are you asking because you want to see if doc can turn you into a librarian when all this is over?" \[p.240:\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/are-you-asking-because-you-want-to-see-if-doc-can-turn-you-into-a/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“Most people are idiots. There's nothing worse than idiots who tell you their opinions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/most-people-are-idiots-there-s-nothing-worse-than-idiots-who-tell-you/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“I've never seen a Jade in full feral mode before. Candy's nails have curved out into thick claws. Her eyes are red slit pupils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/i-ve-never-seen-a-jade-in-full-feral-mode-before-candy-s-nails-have/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“Words are weapons. They blast big bloody holes in the world. And words are bricks. Say something out loud and it starts turning solid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/words-are-weapons-they-blast-big-bloody-holes-in-the-world-and-words/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“Is killing someone always like this?” “Just the first couple of times. After that it’s like folding socks. But that’s just me.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/is-killing-someone-always-like-this-just-the-first-couple-of-times/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) > [“So, why'd you come back?" " I'm going to kill some people," I tell him. I pour the Jack into the coffee. "Probably a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kadrey/so-why-d-you-come-back-i-m-going-to-kill-some-people-i-tell-him-i/) [Richard Kadrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) [Explore all 126 Richard Kadrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kadrey/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Imagine all of L.A. filled with windup men wandering empty-headed and waiting for orders and directions and purpose. That’s L.A. in a nutshell. A city of driven creatures, but no one is a hundred percent sure what they’re driven toward. Wealth. Fame. Power. Love. Revenge. These are all the obvious end points for the citizens of a spectral city, but none of them quite encompass a final goal. That’s more fragile. Something that slips away like smoke the moment it’s in your hands. It’s a moonshine cocktail of desperation and desire, the certainty that you can find perfection through sheer willpower and the cold terror that if you do reach the goal it will have twisted into something new. A new fevered need born of the search for this one. Searching for the next goal will breed another. And on and on. L.A. and Kill City full of Pinocchios with whirring gears for brains, all wanting to be real boys but sunk in the certainty that they’ll never become anything because they’re nothing. 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