--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Deus ex machina not only erases all…" description: "\"Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion, it's an insult to the audience. Each of us knows we must choose and act, for better or worse, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/robert-mckee-8479_audience_deus-ex-machina-not-only-erases-all-mean_1908257.jpg" --- # Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion… ![“Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion, it's an insult to the audience. Each of us knows we must choose and act, for better or worse, to determine the meaning of our lives...Deus ex machina is an insult because it is a lie.” quote by Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/robert-mckee-8479_audience_deus-ex-machina-not-only-erases-all-mean_1908257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/robert-mckee-8479_audience_deus-ex-machina-not-only-erases-all-mean_1908257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/robert-mckee-8479_audience_deus-ex-machina-not-only-erases-all-mean_1908257.jpg) > “Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion, it's an insult to the audience. Each of us knows we must choose and act, for better or worse, to determine the meaning of our lives...Deus ex machina is an insult because it is a lie.” [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) ## 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 argues that deus ex machina removes agency and emotional depth, reducing narrative to a lazy shortcut that denies audience engagement. **In simple terms:** Deus ex machina undermines story meaning. Key Takeaway Avoid easy plot fixes; preserve character agency. Themes storytelling craft integrity audience agency Mood critical analytical skeptical Type instructional critical When to use this quote - screenwriting - novel writing - theatre - film direction - game narrative design Key Concepts narrative structure character development ethical storytelling Questions to Reflect On - When is a sudden resolution appropriate? - Can surprise twists serve a thematic purpose? A Different Perspective Reliance on deus ex machina may sometimes be purposeful for satire or genre subversion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Deus Ex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deus-ex/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Ex Machina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ex-machina/) [Exes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exes/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Meaning of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [“But think about it - what if there were a deus ex machina in real life? Everything would be so easy! If you felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/but-think-about-it-what-if-there-were-a-deus-ex-machina-in-real-life/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Nothing is more frustrating than sitting in an office amid typewriters and mimeographers when you know what deus ex machina means.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/nothing-is-more-frustrating-than-sitting-in-an-office-amid/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [It's the next phase of authorship of this country's energy future. It's gonna come from the people. It's not gonna be deus ex machina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/it-s-the-next-phase-of-authorship-of-this-country-s-energy-future-it/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [Personally, I avoid deus ex machina like the plague - if you have to use one, it means you failed to set up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/personally-i-avoid-deus-ex-machina-like-the-plague-if-you-have-to-use/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“Just as well,” he said. “We have one deus ex machina too many as it is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/just-as-well-he-said-we-have-one-deus-ex-machina-too-many-as-it-is/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“I had, therefore, to resign myself to commissioning a duplicate from a jeweller in Madrid. They did the work very nicely. The claws are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/i-had-therefore-to-resign-myself-to-commissioning-a-duplicate-from-a/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [“...This particular blunder is known as deus ex machina , which is French for "Are you fucking kidding me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-mittelmark/this-particular-blunder-is-known-as-deus-ex-machina-which-is-french/) [Howard Mittelmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-mittelmark/) > [“...no matter how beneficial a disappearing act might be for me, I could never tear myself away from a show in progress. Even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kilmer-purcell/no-matter-how-beneficial-a-disappearing-act-might-be-for-me-i-could/) [Josh Kilmer-Purcell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kilmer-purcell/) > [I need some kind of... like... last minute, poorly-set-up deus ex machina!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-lee-o-malley/i-need-some-kind-of-like-last-minute-poorly-set-up-deus-ex-machina/) [Bryan Lee O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-lee-o-malley/) > [“This is the plot up to the moment when the writer leaves the woman still dolefully enmeshed in it, and, suitcase in hand, tiptoeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/this-is-the-plot-up-to-the-moment-when-the-writer-leaves-the-woman/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [“Introduction of deus ex machina is a tell-tale sign of sloppy plotting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mehalek/introduction-of-deus-ex-machina-is-a-tell-tale-sign-of-sloppy-plotting/) [Mike Mehalek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mehalek/) > [“language is no deus ex machina to account for philosophy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-collins/language-is-no-deus-ex-machina-to-account-for-philosophy/) Randall Collins > [“A deus ex machina will never appear in real life so you best make other arrangements.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/a-deus-ex-machina-will-never-appear-in-real-life-so-you-best-make/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [“A bunch of different people appear, and they’ve got their own situations and reasons and excuses, and each one is pursuing his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/a-bunch-of-different-people-appear-and-they-ve-got-their-own/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“God of the gaps” Christianity seeks to present Christianity as playing a strong savior role whereby it fills the gaps and provides the missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-louis-metzger/god-of-the-gaps-christianity-seeks-to-present-christianity-as-playing/) [Paul Louis Metzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-louis-metzger/) ## More by Robert McKee > [Story isn't a flight from reality but a vehicle that carries us on our search for reality,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/story-isn-t-a-flight-from-reality-but-a-vehicle-that-carries-us-on/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Don't be didactic - don't write about poverty. Write about poor people. When you dramatize their lives and let life and characters be your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/don-t-be-didactic-don-t-write-about-poverty-write-about-poor-people/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [To connect to people at the deepest level, you need stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/to-connect-to-people-at-the-deepest-level-you-need-stories/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Talent without craft is like fuel without an engine, it burns wildly but accomplishes nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/talent-without-craft-is-like-fuel-without-an-engine-it-burns-wildly/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [“If the story you're telling, is the story you're telling, you're in deep shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/if-the-story-you-re-telling-is-the-story-you-re-telling-you-re-in/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Classical design is a mirror of the human mind. It's how we see the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/classical-design-is-a-mirror-of-the-human-mind-it-s-how-we-see-the/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [To get the truth, you want to get your own heart to pound while you write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/to-get-the-truth-you-want-to-get-your-own-heart-to-pound-while-you/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [What happens is fact, not truth. Truth is what we think about what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/what-happens-is-fact-not-truth-truth-is-what-we-think-about-what/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [The universal erosion of values has lead to the universal erosion of story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/the-universal-erosion-of-values-has-lead-to-the-universal-erosion-of/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [In a world of lies and liars, an honest work of art is always an act of social responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/in-a-world-of-lies-and-liars-an-honest-work-of-art-is-always-an-act/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Influence is just persuasion in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/influence-is-just-persuasion-in-slow-motion/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Good story' means something worth telling that the world wants to hear. Finding this is your lonely task...But the love of a good story,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/good-story-means-something-worth-telling-that-the-world-wants-to-hear/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Most of life's actions are within our reach, but decisions take willpower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/most-of-life-s-actions-are-within-our-reach-but-decisions-take/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [We realize we can't go around saying and doing what we're actually thinking and feeling. If we all did that, life would be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/we-realize-we-can-t-go-around-saying-and-doing-what-we-re-actually/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Oh, by the way, I tend to use a lot of profanities. I do that for a reason: I like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/oh-by-the-way-i-tend-to-use-a-lot-of-profanities-i-do-that-for-a/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) [Explore all 78 Robert McKee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Deus ex machina not only erases all meaning and emotion, it's an insult to the audience. 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