--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s the worst thing, isn’t it?'…" description: "\"“That’s the worst thing, isn’t it?' Charlie said. 'Things that act alive but aren’t.”\" — Scott Cawthon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/scott-cawthon-21442_artificial-life_that-s-the-worst-thing-isn-t-it-charlie_2798268.jpg" --- # That’s the worst thing, isn’t it?' Charlie said. 'Things… ![“That’s the worst thing, isn’t it?' Charlie said. 'Things that act alive but aren’t.” quote by Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/scott-cawthon-21442_artificial-life_that-s-the-worst-thing-isn-t-it-charlie_2798268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/scott-cawthon-21442_artificial-life_that-s-the-worst-thing-isn-t-it-charlie_2798268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/scott-cawthon-21442_artificial-life_that-s-the-worst-thing-isn-t-it-charlie_2798268.jpg) > ““That’s the worst thing, isn’t it?' Charlie said. 'Things that act alive but aren’t.”” [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living things that seem alive but aren’t can be unsettling. **In simple terms:** Uncanny things feel creepy. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage uncanny fear. Themes fear uncanny psychology Mood eerie tense Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - horror gaming - theme design - storytelling Key Concepts cognitive dissonance creepiness Questions to Reflect On - Why do we fear the almost‑alive? - How does this affect game immersion? A Different Perspective Some may find it thrilling, not just scary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artificial life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Toys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toys/) ## Related quotes > [“You want to ask them?" Jessica said sarcastically. "Let's call them and leave a message. 'Please call us back with your murderous plot at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthorn/you-want-to-ask-them-jessica-said-sarcastically-let-s-call-them-and/) Scott Cawthorn > [“That’s not a logical argument. I know it isn’t. The thing isn’t Earth-logic anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-campbell-jr/that-s-not-a-logical-argument-i-know-it-isn-t-the-thing-isn-t-earth/) John W. Campbell Jr > [Survival's the thing, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/survival-s-the-thing-isn-t-it/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [Poetry is the one thing that isn't contaminated, the one thing that isn't part of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/poetry-is-the-one-thing-that-isn-t-contaminated-the-one-thing-that/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [“information is simultaneously a relationship, an action, and an area of shared mind. What it isn't is a noun. Information is not a thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/information-is-simultaneously-a-relationship-an-action-and-an-area-of/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [“The right thing isn’t always the easiest,’ she said. ‘That’s why most don’t often do the right thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mountford/the-right-thing-isn-t-always-the-easiest-she-said-that-s-why-most-don/) Lee Mountford > [“The important thing isn't what other people think you are; it's who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-important-thing-isn-t-what-other-people-think-you-are-it-s-who/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Fate is a funny thing, isn’t it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winna-efendi/fate-is-a-funny-thing-isn-t-it/) [Winna Efendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winna-efendi/) > [Sometimes I feel like this whole thing isn't real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-s/sometimes-i-feel-like-this-whole-thing-isn-t-real/) Wendy's > [If you have to keep reminding yourself of a thing, perhaps it isn't so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-morley/if-you-have-to-keep-reminding-yourself-of-a-thing-perhaps-it-isn-t-so/) [Christopher Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-morley/) > [“The easy thing isn't the same as the right thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/the-easy-thing-isn-t-the-same-as-the-right-thing/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [“The greatest thing about me isn’t even a part of me. It’s you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/the-greatest-thing-about-me-isn-t-even-a-part-of-me-it-s-you/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“There’s something I have to help Charlie with,” she said, and it was one of the most dissatisfying answers he’d ever heard, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-blakely/there-s-something-i-have-to-help-charlie-with-she-said-and-it-was-one/) [Lauren Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-blakely/) > [“Take a seat, Charlie,” he said. “I’ll kill you in a few minutes. It’ll be good for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-weisel/take-a-seat-charlie-he-said-i-ll-kill-you-in-a-few-minutes-it-ll-be/) [Frederick Weisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-weisel/) > [I went to Charlie and said, 'Give it to me, look it all the way in, follow me as I go through, and I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/i-went-to-charlie-and-said-give-it-to-me-look-it-all-the-way-in/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) ## More by Scott Cawthon > [“What's up?" He nodded his head, playing it cool, then casually stepped away before silently returning to a sprint. Playing hide-and-seek like babies, Jason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/what-s-up-he-nodded-his-head-playing-it-cool-then-casually-stepped/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [“An odd, thin smile on his lips, Dave reached out with his fingertips, savoring the moment, and brushed yellow fur.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/an-odd-thin-smile-on-his-lips-dave-reached-out-with-his-fingertips/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [I haven't had a successful life; and now that God has blessed me with some success, I'm doing my best to be responsible with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/i-haven-t-had-a-successful-life-and-now-that-god-has-blessed-me-with/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [I want to spend more time with my family, and get back to what made me enjoy making games in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/i-want-to-spend-more-time-with-my-family-and-get-back-to-what-made-me/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [With each game's release, I think the expectations get higher and higher for the next, and rightfully so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/with-each-game-s-release-i-think-the-expectations-get-higher-and/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [“To her he was still mythic, still larger than life, still the man who could deactivate monsters. He was also the man who made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/to-her-he-was-still-mythic-still-larger-than-life-still-the-man-who/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [“There was a scar on his neck, curved and ugly, almost a perfect half-moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/there-was-a-scar-on-his-neck-curved-and-ugly-almost-a-perfect-half/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [I don't party on weekends, I don't get drunk or sip martinis. I spend my evenings playing 'Megaman 3,' buster only, with my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/i-don-t-party-on-weekends-i-don-t-get-drunk-or-sip-martinis-i-spend/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [“Sign you up for this? You had one foot in the car at the first mention of murder! You practically invited yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/sign-you-up-for-this-you-had-one-foot-in-the-car-at-the-first-mention/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [“The things that had changed seem out of place, and the things that had remained the same made Charlie feel out of place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/the-things-that-had-changed-seem-out-of-place-and-the-things-that-had/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [Maybe I'll try my hand at a pizzeria tycoon game, who knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/maybe-i-ll-try-my-hand-at-a-pizzeria-tycoon-game-who-knows/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [People who make videos bashing other people are like people who run into a public square and scream into a pillow. They'll get attention,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/people-who-make-videos-bashing-other-people-are-like-people-who-run/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [I'm sticking to what I've always said, either the right movie gets made or no movie gets made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/i-m-sticking-to-what-i-ve-always-said-either-the-right-movie-gets/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [Each game should be better than the last. But that pressure starts to mount, and I fear that I've been neglecting other things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/each-game-should-be-better-than-the-last-but-that-pressure-starts-to/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) > [“Another girl?” Charlie drew closer. “Yes, as a matter of fact. Been dead for a couple of days, probably killed two nights ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cawthon/another-girl-charlie-drew-closer-yes-as-a-matter-of-fact-been-dead/) [Scott Cawthon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) [Explore all 29 Scott Cawthon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cawthon/) ## More Artificial life quotes > [Steve Grand is the creator of what I think is the nearest approach to artificial life so far, and his first book, Creation: Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/steve-grand-is-the-creator-of-what-i-think-is-the-nearest-approach-to/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [How could she have believed such an artificial life as the theatre was suitable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mccaffrey/how-could-she-have-believed-such-an-artificial-life-as-the-theatre/) [Anne McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mccaffrey/) > [Each of the essays in this volume ranges widely across technical and philosophical domains. They examine both familiar automatons from throughout history and delight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-brooks/each-of-the-essays-in-this-volume-ranges-widely-across-technical-and/) [Rodney Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-brooks/) > [I'm very interested in the evolution of technology, and it's really the idea of artificial life which intrigues me, more than just intelligence -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-m-very-interested-in-the-evolution-of-technology-and-it-s-really/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Nature (the Art whereby God hath made and governs the World) is by the Art of man, as in many other things, so in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/nature-the-art-whereby-god-hath-made-and-governs-the-world-is-by-the/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Most of the time, we live our lives within these invisible systems, blissfully unaware of the artificial life, the intensely designed infrastructures that support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/most-of-the-time-we-live-our-lives-within-these-invisible-systems/) [Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/) > [How can a motion picture reflect real life when it is made by people who are living artificial lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-hopkins/how-can-a-motion-picture-reflect-real-life-when-it-is-made-by-people/) Miriam Hopkins > [The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-aim-of-every-artist-is-to-arrest-motion-which-is-life-by-3/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Alexei Alexandrovich stood face to face with life, confronting the possibility of his wife loving someone else besides him, and it was this that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/alexei-alexandrovich-stood-face-to-face-with-life-confronting-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our examination of computer viruses leads us to the conclusion that they are very close to what we might define as "artificial life." Rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-spafford/our-examination-of-computer-viruses-leads-us-to-the-conclusion-that/) [Gene Spafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-spafford/) > [“Now he experienced a feeling akin to that of a man whom while calmly crossing a bridge over a precipice, should suddenly discover that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/now-he-experienced-a-feeling-akin-to-that-of-a-man-whom-while-calmly/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To do well those thing which God ordained to be the common lot of all man-kind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-do-well-those-thing-which-god-ordained-to-be-the-common-lot-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I took my grandmother to the emergency room. The doctor said that she was on an artificial life support system, and that although her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-took-my-grandmother-to-the-emergency-room-the-doctor-said-that-she/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [“A door to a long-awaited game-world has opened for those who found its key. This includes Dan Harvester, a guy who lives in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ade-mcoran-campbell/a-door-to-a-long-awaited-game-world-has-opened-for-those-who-found/) Ade McOran-Campbell > [“My laboratory is interested in the related challenges of understanding the origin of life on the early earth, and constructing synthetic cellular life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-w-szostak/my-laboratory-is-interested-in-the-related-challenges-of/) [Jack W. Szostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-w-szostak/) [Browse all 25 Artificial life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That’s the worst thing, isn’t it?' Charlie said. 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