---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We build our technologies as a way of…"
description: "\"We build our technologies as a way of addressing all our anxieties and desires. They are our passions congealed into these prosthetic extensions of our..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg"
---

#  We build our technologies as a way of addressing all our…

![“We build our technologies as a way of addressing all our anxieties and desires. They are our passions congealed into these prosthetic extensions of ourselves. And they do it in a way that reflects what we dream ourselves capable of doing.” quote by Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg)

> “We build our technologies as a way of addressing all our anxieties and desires. They are our passions congealed into these prosthetic extensions of ourselves. And they do it in a way that reflects what we dream ourselves capable of doing.”

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Technology mirrors human hopes and fears, becoming extensions that embody our aspirations and anxieties.

**In simple terms:** Tech reflects our hopes and fears.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how tools shape identity.

Themes

technology psychology identity creativity

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal development
- design thinking
- digital art
- self‑reflection

Key Concepts

extension prosthetic desire anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

- How do your tools define you?
- What anxieties do you project onto technology?

A Different Perspective

Tech can amplify both empowerment and dependency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Addressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addressing/) [Anxieties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxieties/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Passions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passions/) [Technologies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technologies/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. If someone were addressing your point, what tone, what overall approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-most-important-guideline-when-it-comes-to-argument-is-the-golden/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [The thing that defines a species is that all members have the same addressing system for their DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-thing-that-defines-a-species-is-that-all-members-have-the-same/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [As Americans, we have traditionally been the optimists sporting the 'can-do' attitude. But when it comes to addressing climate adaptation and resiliency, we seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tonko/as-americans-we-have-traditionally-been-the-optimists-sporting-the/)

[Paul Tonko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tonko/)

> [India considers Saudi Arabia a center of stability in the region. The security and stability of the Gulf region and that of the Indian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/india-considers-saudi-arabia-a-center-of-stability-in-the-region-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [Government is never so noble as when it is addressing wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/government-is-never-so-noble-as-when-it-is-addressing-wrongs/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [If we are addressing the issue of weapons of mass destruction, we need to send a uniform, consistent message that there is zero tolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-we-are-addressing-the-issue-of-weapons-of-mass-destruction-we-need/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [My own view would be to let Saddam bluster, let him rant and rave all he wants. As long as he behaves himself within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/my-own-view-would-be-to-let-saddam-bluster-let-him-rant-and-rave-all/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [For the general public, my work is sometimes easier than a painting because there is someone addressing you; it can actually be a relief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tino-sehgal/for-the-general-public-my-work-is-sometimes-easier-than-a-painting/)

[Tino Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tino-sehgal/)

> [“It is a good idea to remind clients to address each other rather than addressing the interpreter. Some interpreters in this situation make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-phelan/it-is-a-good-idea-to-remind-clients-to-address-each-other-rather-than/)

Mary Phelan

> [Every day things get better because politicians are addressing the fiscal challenges more aggressively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-whitney/every-day-things-get-better-because-politicians-are-addressing-the/)

[Meredith Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-whitney/)

> [The basis on which the Good Friday agreement was constructed was in addressing those problems in the history of Northern Ireland, the social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reid/the-basis-on-which-the-good-friday-agreement-was-constructed-was-in/)

[John Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reid/)

> [We depend a lot on the guy upstairs in dire times, in addressing our concerns and looking for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/we-depend-a-lot-on-the-guy-upstairs-in-dire-times-in-addressing-our/)

[John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/)

> [There has been, and there will continue to be, vigorous discussions about race in America. I worry that little will come of these discussions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/there-has-been-and-there-will-continue-to-be-vigorous-discussions/)

[Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/)

> [I think that we have a number of different health care challenges in our country, and certainly addressing the uninsured is one, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/i-think-that-we-have-a-number-of-different-health-care-challenges-in/)

[Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/)

> [Leftists always want to... circle around subjects... rather than addressing any subject directly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sim/leftists-always-want-to-circle-around-subjects-rather-than-addressing/)

[Dave Sim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sim/)

## More by Richard Powers

> [I write the way you might arrange flowers. Not every try works, but each one launches another. Every constraint, even dullness, frees up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-write-the-way-you-might-arrange-flowers-not-every-try-works-but/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [“It seemed to me that half of life’s problems would be solved if one of us had a vagina.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/it-seemed-to-me-that-half-of-life-s-problems-would-be-solved-if-one/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [“Information may travel at light speed, but meaning spreads at the speed of dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/information-may-travel-at-light-speed-but-meaning-spreads-at-the/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [Science is not about control. It is about cultivating a perpetual condition of wonder in the face of something that forever grows one step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/science-is-not-about-control-it-is-about-cultivating-a-perpetual/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [What we can do should never by itself determine what we choose to do, yet this is the way technology tends to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/what-we-can-do-should-never-by-itself-determine-what-we-choose-to-do/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [I really like science because it seems to be that place where you get the big picture, everything connects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/i-really-like-science-because-it-seems-to-be-that-place-where-you-get/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [For me, university was just awful because it was closing one door after the other of all these candy shops of professional possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/for-me-university-was-just-awful-because-it-was-closing-one-door/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [We will live with racism for ever. But senses of self, senses of belonging, senses of us and of others? Those are up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/we-will-live-with-racism-for-ever-but-senses-of-self-senses-of/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [Reading is the last act of secular prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/reading-is-the-last-act-of-secular-prayer/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [Time passes, as the novelist says. The single most useful trick of fiction for our repair and refreshment: the defeat of time. A century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/time-passes-as-the-novelist-says-the-single-most-useful-trick-of/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [A book is still atemporal. It is you, in silence, hearing voices in your head, unfolding at a time that has nothing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/a-book-is-still-atemporal-it-is-you-in-silence-hearing-voices-in-your/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [My dream has always been to suspend myself in space when I write, and lying horizontal in bed is the closest to doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/my-dream-has-always-been-to-suspend-myself-in-space-when-i-write-and/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [“Je ne fais aucun mal en restant ici. I do no harm by remaining here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/je-ne-fais-aucun-mal-en-restant-ici-i-do-no-harm-by-remaining-here/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [The use of music is to remind us how short a time we have a body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/the-use-of-music-is-to-remind-us-how-short-a-time-we-have-a-body/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

[Explore all 84 Richard Powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

## More Addressing quotes

> [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. If someone were addressing your point, what tone, what overall approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/the-most-important-guideline-when-it-comes-to-argument-is-the-golden/)

[Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/)

> [I think that we have a number of different health care challenges in our country, and certainly addressing the uninsured is one, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/i-think-that-we-have-a-number-of-different-health-care-challenges-in/)

[Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/)

> [There has been, and there will continue to be, vigorous discussions about race in America. I worry that little will come of these discussions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/there-has-been-and-there-will-continue-to-be-vigorous-discussions/)

[Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/)

> [We depend a lot on the guy upstairs in dire times, in addressing our concerns and looking for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/we-depend-a-lot-on-the-guy-upstairs-in-dire-times-in-addressing-our/)

[John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/)

> [The basis on which the Good Friday agreement was constructed was in addressing those problems in the history of Northern Ireland, the social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reid/the-basis-on-which-the-good-friday-agreement-was-constructed-was-in/)

[John Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reid/)

> [Every day things get better because politicians are addressing the fiscal challenges more aggressively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-whitney/every-day-things-get-better-because-politicians-are-addressing-the/)

[Meredith Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-whitney/)

> [“It is a good idea to remind clients to address each other rather than addressing the interpreter. Some interpreters in this situation make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-phelan/it-is-a-good-idea-to-remind-clients-to-address-each-other-rather-than/)

Mary Phelan

> [For the general public, my work is sometimes easier than a painting because there is someone addressing you; it can actually be a relief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tino-sehgal/for-the-general-public-my-work-is-sometimes-easier-than-a-painting/)

[Tino Sehgal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tino-sehgal/)

> [My own view would be to let Saddam bluster, let him rant and rave all he wants. As long as he behaves himself within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/my-own-view-would-be-to-let-saddam-bluster-let-him-rant-and-rave-all/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [If we are addressing the issue of weapons of mass destruction, we need to send a uniform, consistent message that there is zero tolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-we-are-addressing-the-issue-of-weapons-of-mass-destruction-we-need/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [Government is never so noble as when it is addressing wrongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/government-is-never-so-noble-as-when-it-is-addressing-wrongs/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [India considers Saudi Arabia a center of stability in the region. The security and stability of the Gulf region and that of the Indian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/india-considers-saudi-arabia-a-center-of-stability-in-the-region-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [As Americans, we have traditionally been the optimists sporting the 'can-do' attitude. But when it comes to addressing climate adaptation and resiliency, we seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tonko/as-americans-we-have-traditionally-been-the-optimists-sporting-the/)

[Paul Tonko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tonko/)

> [The thing that defines a species is that all members have the same addressing system for their DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-thing-that-defines-a-species-is-that-all-members-have-the-same/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [Leftists always want to... circle around subjects... rather than addressing any subject directly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sim/leftists-always-want-to-circle-around-subjects-rather-than-addressing/)

[Dave Sim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sim/)

[Browse all 34 Addressing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addressing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We build our technologies as a way of addressing all our anxieties and desires. They are our passions congealed into these prosthetic extensions of ourselves. And they do it in a way that reflects what we dream ourselves capable of doing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Powers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-addressing-all-our-anxieties/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Addressing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-addressing-all-our-anxieties/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/409/richard-powers-8111_addressing_we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-ad_2223188.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We build our technologies as a way of addressing all our anxieties and desires. They are our passions…” — Richard Powers",
                "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": "Richard Powers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We build our technologies as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-addressing-all-our-anxieties/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/we-build-our-technologies-as-a-way-of-addressing-all-our-anxieties/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
