--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is any of it real? I mean look at this…" description: "\"“Is any of it real? I mean look at this. Look at it! A world built on fantasy. Synthetic emotions in the form of pills. Psychological warfare in the fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/sam-esmail-5206_big-mac_is-any-of-it-real-i-mean-look-at-this-lo_792645.jpg" --- # Is any of it real? I mean look at this. Look at it! A… ![“Is any of it real? I mean look at this. Look at it! A world built on fantasy. Synthetic emotions in the form of pills. Psychological warfare in the form of advertising. Mind-altering chemicals in the form of...food! Brainwashing seminars in teh form of media. Controlled isolated bubbles in the…” quote by Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/sam-esmail-5206_big-mac_is-any-of-it-real-i-mean-look-at-this-lo_792645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/sam-esmail-5206_big-mac_is-any-of-it-real-i-mean-look-at-this-lo_792645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/sam-esmail-5206_big-mac_is-any-of-it-real-i-mean-look-at-this-lo_792645.jpg) > ““Is any of it real? I mean look at this. Look at it! A world built on fantasy. Synthetic emotions in the form of pills. Psychological warfare in the form of advertising. Mind-altering chemicals in the form of...food! Brainwashing seminars in teh form of media. Controlled isolated bubbles in the form of social networks. Real? You want to talk about reality? We haven't lived in anything remotely close to it since the turn of the century. We turned it off, took out the batteries, snacked on a back of GMO's while we tossed the remnants in the ever-expanding dumpster of the human condition. We live in branded houses trademarked by corporations built on bipolar numbers jumping up and down on digital displays, hypnotizing us into the biggest slumber mankind has ever seen. You have to dig pretty deep before you can find anything real. We live in a kingdom of bullshit. A kingdom you've lived in for far too long. So don't tell me about not being real. I'm no less real than the fucking beef patty in your Big Mac.”” [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern life is saturated with artificial constructs that obscure authentic experience. **In simple terms:** Reality is distorted by media, consumerism, and technology. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity beyond manufactured narratives. Themes media consumerism technology authenticity illusion Mood cynical critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - social media use - advertising exposure - food choices - media consumption Key Concepts hyperreality psychological manipulation digital fatigue Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify authentic moments in daily life? - What steps can reduce media‑induced alienation? A Different Perspective Finding genuine experiences can be challenging amid pervasive influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Psychological warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological-warfare/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [So many of the things I talk about in 'Reality Hunger' seem to be the things that 'The Thing About Life' does - things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/so-many-of-the-things-i-talk-about-in-reality-hunger-seem-to-be-the/) [David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/) > [You can talk about reality TV if you want to, but guess what - it was a big commercial for Kym Whitley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/you-can-talk-about-reality-tv-if-you-want-to-but-guess-what-it-was-a/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [To talk about the reality of life here and the work that you do here at the university.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pinsky/to-talk-about-the-reality-of-life-here-and-the-work-that-you-do-here/) [Robert Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pinsky/) > [When I talk of reality, I am always thinking of essentials. Profundity is not located in some remote, inaccessible region. It is rooted in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoni-tapies/when-i-talk-of-reality-i-am-always-thinking-of-essentials-profundity/) [Antoni Tapies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoni-tapies/) > [“Everyone knows this, don’t they?” Cohen gaped at him in astonishment. “Blood-sucking ghosts, as a matter of fact,” said Rincewind. “After all, everyone knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/everyone-knows-this-don-t-they-cohen-gaped-at-him-in-astonishment/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The People’s Daily summoned the language of another era and warned that constitutionalism, the call to put the Party under the rule of law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-osnos/the-people-s-daily-summoned-the-language-of-another-era-and-warned/) [Evan Osnos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-osnos/) > [In this war, which was total in every sense of the word, we have seen many great changes in military science. It seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/in-this-war-which-was-total-in-every-sense-of-the-word-we-have-seen/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Terrorism is a psychological warfare. Terrorists try to manipulate us and change our behavior by creating fear, uncertainty, and division in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-kennedy/terrorism-is-a-psychological-warfare-terrorists-try-to-manipulate-us/) [Patrick J. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-kennedy/) > [“Feelings of any kind are not known to the walking dead. Every form of psychological warfare, from attempts at enraging the undead to provoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/feelings-of-any-kind-are-not-known-to-the-walking-dead-every-form-of/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [A fight is mental, not just physical and psychological warfare is absolutely part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/a-fight-is-mental-not-just-physical-and-psychological-warfare-is/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [None of Ho Chi Minh's colleagues was as dedicated to the use of political struggle, psychological warfare, and diplomatic means as he was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/none-of-ho-chi-minh-s-colleagues-was-as-dedicated-to-the-use-of/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [The GRU is used for both tactical intelligence collection in the battlefield in support of Russian military operations and also strategic active measures or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-gru-is-used-for-both-tactical-intelligence-collection-in-the/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [There was no point in seeking to convert the intellectuals. For intellectuals would never be converted and would anyway always yield to the stronger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-goebbels/there-was-no-point-in-seeking-to-convert-the-intellectuals-for/) [Joseph Goebbels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-goebbels/) > [We have no right ever to forget that psychological warfare is a struggle for winning people's minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/we-have-no-right-ever-to-forget-that-psychological-warfare-is-a/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [We plan to eliminate the state of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/we-plan-to-eliminate-the-state-of-israel-and-establish-a-purely/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) ## More by Sam Esmail > [The experience you're going to take the audience on is as important as the story you're trying to tell. And that experience needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/the-experience-you-re-going-to-take-the-audience-on-is-as-important/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [With TV season structures - and I'm a huge TV watcher - you look at shows like 'Breaking Bad,' which is my favorite show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/with-tv-season-structures-and-i-m-a-huge-tv-watcher-you-look-at-shows/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [Even great actors who transform who they are still go to a really honest place; I think that's sort of that special skill that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/even-great-actors-who-transform-who-they-are-still-go-to-a-really/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I'm not in the business of adapting things that are popular for the sake of just getting it on the screen. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-adapting-things-that-are-popular-for-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [If your loved ones are far away, and they're uploading pictures, you feel like that's enough: these loose strands through email, through social media,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/if-your-loved-ones-are-far-away-and-they-re-uploading-pictures-you/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I had a funny last name, and I didn't look like everybody else, and I got faced with a lot of racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-had-a-funny-last-name-and-i-didn-t-look-like-everybody-else-and-i/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [Movies and television show build on top of each other, succeed one another. In a large way, in terms of filmmaking aesthetics, they evolve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/movies-and-television-show-build-on-top-of-each-other-succeed-one/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [The story of 'Mr. Robot' is really about this guy who's lonely - who's alone and feels so disconnected from the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/the-story-of-mr-robot-is-really-about-this-guy-who-s-lonely-who-s/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [Music is everything to me. It's the heart and soul of a movie or TV show to me because it can be such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/music-is-everything-to-me-it-s-the-heart-and-soul-of-a-movie-or-tv/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I use voiceover just like I use dialogue. There's a way to give out information or give out insight to the character or give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-use-voiceover-just-like-i-use-dialogue-there-s-a-way-to-give-out/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [“Oh, I don't know. Is it that we collectively thought Steve Jobs was a great man, even when we knew he made billions off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/oh-i-don-t-know-is-it-that-we-collectively-thought-steve-jobs-was-a/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [It's weird; my fascination with tech was kind of combined with the fact that my parents would never pay for anything. It got me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/it-s-weird-my-fascination-with-tech-was-kind-of-combined-with-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [Growing up, my parents were very much about the Egyptian culture. They never really wanted to assimilate in American culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/growing-up-my-parents-were-very-much-about-the-egyptian-culture-they/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [Girls rejected me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/girls-rejected-me-a-lot/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [It's not necessarily bad that you have angst or you have anger - it's what you do with it, how you interpret it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/it-s-not-necessarily-bad-that-you-have-angst-or-you-have-anger-it-s/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) [Explore all 102 Sam Esmail quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) ## More Big mac quotes > [“It’s crowded today, the day before the big macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and people are filling up the tunnel like lemmings or cockroaches running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-crowded-today-the-day-before-the-big-macy-s-thanksgiving-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jaden: "Dude, you've found something wrong with every girl. I'm about to play this one solo if you can't make up your mind." Bastian:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyrae-dawn/jaden-dude-you-ve-found-something-wrong-with-every-girl-i-m-about-to/) [Nyrae Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyrae-dawn/) > [Because you're fat, you feel that everybody's watching every bite you take. So, you closet-eat, and you think because nobody sees you eating, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/because-you-re-fat-you-feel-that-everybody-s-watching-every-bite-you/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/doubt-is-the-big-machine-it-grinds-up-the-delusions-of-women-and-men/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [AS y'all know I'm going for 15 days or so for travelling , so yeah :( You GUYS are my hole-digging, browser-history-erasing, funeral-invitation-only assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila/as-y-all-know-i-m-going-for-15-days-or-so-for-travelling-so-yeah-you/) [Leila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila/) > [“Strangest of all, we’ve convinced ourselves that our health has nothing to do with what we eat. People who will spend that extra 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-silverstone/strangest-of-all-we-ve-convinced-ourselves-that-our-health-has/) [Alicia Silverstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-silverstone/) > [That awkward moment when your in the drive-through and you ask for a Big Mac,then you realize your at Taco Bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-simmons/that-awkward-moment-when-your-in-the-drive-through-and-you-ask-for-a/) Scar Simmons > [“They don't go into what is the cause of goodness, so why of the other shop? If lewdies are good that's because they like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/they-don-t-go-into-what-is-the-cause-of-goodness-so-why-of-the-other/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“That moment, when you first lay eyes on that field — The Monster, the triangle, the scoreboard, the light tower Big Mac bashed, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-stark/that-moment-when-you-first-lay-eyes-on-that-field-the-monster-the/) Jayson Stark > [ You know Chuck \[Schumer\] - always got to be the big macher. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-chuck-schumer-always-got-to-be-the-big-macher/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-am-the-literary-equivalent-of-a-big-mac-and-fries/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Just because there's snow on the roof doesn't mean the fire's out, son”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/just-because-there-s-snow-on-the-roof-doesn-t-mean-the-fire-s-out-son/) [Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/) > [In general, I try to eat food without added hormones and pesticides, but I'm not so strict that I won't have a Big Mac…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-peregrym/in-general-i-try-to-eat-food-without-added-hormones-and-pesticides/) [Missy Peregrym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-peregrym/) > [“Afterwards, we don’t head straight back to work. Instead, we stop at McDonald’s. Kristy gets a Happy Meal. Cora gets like four pies, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-johnson/afterwards-we-don-t-head-straight-back-to-work-instead-we-stop-at/) [Hannah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-johnson/) > [When McDonald's opened up in Moscow - I happened to be there when it opened and wandered in. And the Russians were queuing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/when-mcdonald-s-opened-up-in-moscow-i-happened-to-be-there-when-it/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) Browse all 143 Big mac quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Is any of it real? I mean look at this. Look at it! A world built on fantasy. Synthetic emotions in the form of pills. Psychological warfare in the form of advertising. Mind-altering chemicals in the form of...food! Brainwashing seminars in teh form of media. Controlled isolated bubbles in the form of social networks. Real? You want to talk about reality? We haven't lived in anything remotely close to it since the turn of the century. We turned it off, took out the batteries, snacked on a back of GMO's while we tossed the remnants in the ever-expanding dumpster of the human condition. We live in branded houses trademarked by corporations built on bipolar numbers jumping up and down on digital displays, hypnotizing us into the biggest slumber mankind has ever seen. You have to dig pretty deep before you can find anything real. We live in a kingdom of bullshit. A kingdom you've lived in for far too long. So don't tell me about not being real. 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