--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have any system. I dictate a lot…" description: "\"I don't have any system. I dictate a lot, through a machine, and I also have a secretary. But I used to type just like everybody else.\" — Rod Serling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png" --- # I don't have any system. I dictate a lot, through a… ![“I don't have any system. I dictate a lot, through a machine, and I also have a secretary. But I used to type just like everybody else.” quote by Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png) > “I don't have any system. I dictate a lot, through a machine, and I also have a secretary. But I used to type just like everybody else.” [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a chaotic workflow relying on improvisation, machines, and assistance rather than a formal system. **In simple terms:** He works without a set plan, using tools and help. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility but seek structure where possible. Themes creativity work habits technology Mood reflective lighthearted Type advice personal When to use this quote - writing - office management - project coordination - creative brainstorming Key Concepts Improvisation delegation Questions to Reflect On - How could a simple framework improve your output? - What tools could streamline your process? A Different Perspective Lack of a system can cause inconsistency and stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Dictate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate/) [Dictate Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictate-lot-5782185/) [Machine Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machine-secretary-5782183/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Secretary Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary-used-5782184/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Type Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type-just-1144843/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [The more I want a book to be done, the faster I type because I just want to get it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-more-i-want-a-book-to-be-done-the-faster-i-type-because-i-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Whatever your body type is, just use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bingson/whatever-your-body-type-is-just-use-it/) [Amanda Bingson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bingson/) > [I don't even have a type, I don't think. My type is just whoever can get along with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/i-don-t-even-have-a-type-i-don-t-think-my-type-is-just-whoever-can/) [Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/) > [I am my own secretary; I dictate, I compose, I copy all myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venerable-bede/i-am-my-own-secretary-i-dictate-i-compose-i-copy-all-myself/) [Venerable Bede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venerable-bede/) > [Collaborate, don't dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/collaborate-don-t-dictate/) [George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/) > [“Your Purpose Should Dictate How You Spend Your Time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-johnson-padgitt/your-purpose-should-dictate-how-you-spend-your-time/) [Brenda Johnson Padgitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-johnson-padgitt/) > [As a major contemporary composer, Madonna should not let the eye dictate to the ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-major-contemporary-composer-madonna-should-not-let-the-eye/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Illiterates have to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/illiterates-have-to-dictate/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [What if I couldn't handle people's opinions of me? I know that shouldn't dictate a person's degree of peace or happiness in life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evans/what-if-i-couldn-t-handle-people-s-opinions-of-me-i-know-that-shouldn/) [Chris Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evans/) > [It's kind of true that they just start making the same movie over and over again. It's also true that the times dictate what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jane/it-s-kind-of-true-that-they-just-start-making-the-same-movie-over-and/) [Thomas Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jane/) > [Songs are like anything else - they dictate to you which ones go together and which ones don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/songs-are-like-anything-else-they-dictate-to-you-which-ones-go/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [Federalism doesn't empower D.C. to dictate to the states or the local level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/federalism-doesn-t-empower-d-c-to-dictate-to-the-states-or-the-local/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [I am not invested with dictatorial powers. If I were, I should be quite ready to dictate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-not-invested-with-dictatorial-powers-if-i-were-i-should-be-quite/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I'm obsessed with being able to dictate energy in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bazzi/i-m-obsessed-with-being-able-to-dictate-energy-in-a-room/) [Bazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bazzi/) ## More by Rod Serling > [If you want to prove that God is not dead first prove that man is alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-you-want-to-prove-that-god-is-not-dead-first-prove-that-man-is/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [There is nothing in the dark that isn't there when the lights are on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/there-is-nothing-in-the-dark-that-isn-t-there-when-the-lights-are-on/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [There are weapons that are simply thoughts. For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/there-are-weapons-that-are-simply-thoughts-for-the-record-prejudices/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I don't believe in reincarnation. That's a cop-out, I know. I don't really want to be reincarnated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-believe-in-reincarnation-that-s-a-cop-out-i-know-i-don-t/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I was deeply interested in conveying what is a deeply felt conviction of my own. This is simply to suggest that human beings must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-was-deeply-interested-in-conveying-what-is-a-deeply-felt-conviction/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [If in any quest for magic, in any search for sorcery, witchery, legerdemain, first check the human spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-in-any-quest-for-magic-in-any-search-for-sorcery-witchery/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of man, that state is obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/any-state-any-entity-any-ideology-that-fails-to-recognize-the-worth/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [It may be said with a degree of assurance that not everything that meets the eye is as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/it-may-be-said-with-a-degree-of-assurance-that-not-everything-that/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I don't know what my friends do. Generally they become producers. That way they can stop writing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-know-what-my-friends-do-generally-they-become-producers-that/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I just want people to remember me a hundred years from now. I don't care that they're not able to quote any single line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-just-want-people-to-remember-me-a-hundred-years-from-now-i-don-t/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [According to the Bible, God created the heavens and the Earth. It is man’s prerogative - and woman’s - to create their own particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/according-to-the-bible-god-created-the-heavens-and-the-earth-it-is/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [“In his grave, we praise him for his decency - but when he walked amongst us, we responded with no decency of our own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/in-his-grave-we-praise-him-for-his-decency-but-when-he-walked-amongst/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [If you're really a good writer and deserve that honored position, then by God, you'll write, and you'll be read, and you'll be produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/if-you-re-really-a-good-writer-and-deserve-that-honored-position-then/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I would guess that the price of the script really is secondary. The credit is much more the essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-would-guess-that-the-price-of-the-script-really-is-secondary-the/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [I don't think it's man's function to write. I don't think it's a normal thing like teeth-brushing and going to the bathroom. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-think-it-s-man-s-function-to-write-i-don-t-think-it-s-a/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) [Explore all 156 Rod Serling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) [Jen-Hsun Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hsun-huang/) > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) [William Henry Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-pickering/) > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) [Cruce Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cruce-stark/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't have any system. I dictate a lot, through a machine, and I also have a secretary. But I used to type just like everybody else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rod Serling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot-through-a-machine-and-i-also/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot-through-a-machine-and-i-also/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/rod-serling-2652_computers_i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot_3172785.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't have any system. I dictate a lot, through a machine, and I also have a secretary. But I used to type…” — Rod Serling", "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": "Rod Serling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't have any system. I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot-through-a-machine-and-i-also/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-have-any-system-i-dictate-a-lot-through-a-machine-and-i-also/#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 } } ] } ```