--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Remote control. Ingenious contradiction…" description: "\"Remote control. Ingenious contradiction of terms. Fits like a handshake. Aims like a gun.\" — Roger Rosenblatt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/roger-rosenblatt-13478_aim_remote-control-ingenious-contradiction-o_3069231.png" --- # Remote control. Ingenious contradiction of terms. Fits… ![“Remote control. Ingenious contradiction of terms. Fits like a handshake. Aims like a gun.” quote by Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/roger-rosenblatt-13478_aim_remote-control-ingenious-contradiction-o_3069231.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/roger-rosenblatt-13478_aim_remote-control-ingenious-contradiction-o_3069231.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/roger-rosenblatt-13478_aim_remote-control-ingenious-contradiction-o_3069231.png) > “Remote control. Ingenious contradiction of terms. Fits like a handshake. Aims like a gun.” [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Remote control paradoxically combines passive convenience with aggressive control, like a handshake that aims like a gun. **In simple terms:** Control can be deceptive. Key Takeaway Question the tools you use. Themes technology control paradox Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - advertising - social media - consumer tech Key Concepts media critique power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does this metaphor reveal? - How do you retain agency? A Different Perspective Convenience may mask manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aim/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Handshake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handshake/) [Ingenious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingenious/) [Like Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-gun-418370/) [Like Handshake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-handshake-1892326/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Remote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remote/) [Remote control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remote-control/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [When you follow someone on Twitter it is like a handshake back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scooter-braun/when-you-follow-someone-on-twitter-it-is-like-a-handshake-back/) [Scooter Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scooter-braun/) > [“You could approach someone worlds apart from you by offering them, like a handshake, a simple truth from their own lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-bennett/you-could-approach-someone-worlds-apart-from-you-by-offering-them/) [Danielle Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-bennett/) > [“It's just sex. It's like a handshake, only friendlier." (Gary)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/it-s-just-sex-it-s-like-a-handshake-only-friendlier-gary/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [“I'd give anything if you'd kiss me." I said. "I mean," I said when he tilted his head to look at me, his eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-d-give-anything-if-you-d-kiss-me-i-said-i-mean-i-said-when-he/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [Life doesn't have a remote control, get up and change it yourself!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-doesn-t-have-a-remote-control-get-up-and-change-it-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You ever look for the remote control, but you can't find it, so you just decide, "Ah, guess I'm not watching TV. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/you-ever-look-for-the-remote-control-but-you-can-t-find-it-so-you/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Television is the most perfect democracy. You sit there with your remote control and vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-brown/television-is-the-most-perfect-democracy-you-sit-there-with-your/) [Aaron Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-brown/) > [I couldn't find the remote control to the remote control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-couldn-t-find-the-remote-control-to-the-remote-control/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I am like a TV and remote control, because every time I turn on the TV and use the remote control my life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menilda-echipare/i-am-like-a-tv-and-remote-control-because-every-time-i-turn-on-the-tv/) [Menilda Echipare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menilda-echipare/) > [“Watching television with elderly members of your family. VERY LOUDLY INDEED. They can't understand how the remote control works but keep trying to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-hart/watching-television-with-elderly-members-of-your-family-very-loudly/) [Miranda Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-hart/) > [55% of all Americans lose their remote control 5 times a week. That means that they must see the same show for up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/55-of-all-americans-lose-their-remote-control-5-times-a-week-that/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“...what a leveller this remote-control gizmo was...it chopped down the heavyweight and stretched out the slight until all the set's emissions, commercials, murders, game-shows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/what-a-leveller-this-remote-control-gizmo-was-it-chopped-down-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Life is like a very long TV show, without a remote control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-very-long-tv-show-without-a-remote-control/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is not a business where you can hand off and run by remote control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-neeleman/this-is-not-a-business-where-you-can-hand-off-and-run-by-remote/) [David Neeleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-neeleman/) > [Don't let negative pictures play on the movie screen of your mind, you own the remote control. All you have to do is change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anmol-andore/don-t-let-negative-pictures-play-on-the-movie-screen-of-your-mind-you/) [Anmol Andore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anmol-andore/) ## More by Roger Rosenblatt > [If you put anger in the writing, then it's like an actor crying on stage. The audience will not cry with the actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-you-put-anger-in-the-writing-then-it-s-like-an-actor-crying-on/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [“Somewhere, I am sure, a calm, quiet place awaits me where I may do something worthwhile again. Another island, perhaps. Or a little cottage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/somewhere-i-am-sure-a-calm-quiet-place-awaits-me-where-i-may-do/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Time can be such a menace to a man. By this age do that; by that age do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/time-can-be-such-a-menace-to-a-man-by-this-age-do-that-by-that-age-do/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Every writing teacher gives the subliminal message, every time they teach: 'Your life counts for something.' In no other subject that I know of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/every-writing-teacher-gives-the-subliminal-message-every-time-they/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [There is nothing like a man for bringing out the animal in an animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/there-is-nothing-like-a-man-for-bringing-out-the-animal-in-an-animal/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Children love to be alone because alone is where they know themselves, and where they dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/children-love-to-be-alone-because-alone-is-where-they-know-themselves/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Whatever you think matters - doesn't. Follow this rule, and you will add decades to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/whatever-you-think-matters-doesn-t-follow-this-rule-and-you-will-add/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [No writer besides Shakespeare has created more memorable characters attached to vices and virtues. In even their least sympathetic characters, one senses a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/no-writer-besides-shakespeare-has-created-more-memorable-characters/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [For those at home, as well as for those in battle, war is curiously disabling. The mere realization that one's country is at war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/for-those-at-home-as-well-as-for-those-in-battle-war-is-curiously/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [One of the very important things that have to be learned around the time dying becomes a real prospect is to recognize those occasions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/one-of-the-very-important-things-that-have-to-be-learned-around-the/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [If you're going to believe in God, if you're going to take that leap of faith, as I do, then the God that seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-you-re-going-to-believe-in-god-if-you-re-going-to-take-that-leap/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [If a man spends enough time in a library, he may actually change his mind. I have seen it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-a-man-spends-enough-time-in-a-library-he-may-actually-change-his/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Do not keep company with people who speak of careers. Not only are such people uninteresting in themselves; they also have no interest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/do-not-keep-company-with-people-who-speak-of-careers-not-only-are/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [If the sad truth be known, writers, being the misfits we are, probably ought not to belong to families in the first place. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-the-sad-truth-be-known-writers-being-the-misfits-we-are-probably/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [The belief in potential human virtue underlies the whole idea of the Bill of Rights; the document is a very tough guardian of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/the-belief-in-potential-human-virtue-underlies-the-whole-idea-of-the/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) [Explore all 50 Roger Rosenblatt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. 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