--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We live in a technological universe in…" description: "\"We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.\" — Sherry Turkle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/sherry-turkle-2764_communicating_we-live-in-a-technological-universe-in-w_566827.png" --- # We live in a technological universe in which we are always… ![“We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.” quote by Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/sherry-turkle-2764_communicating_we-live-in-a-technological-universe-in-w_566827.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/sherry-turkle-2764_communicating_we-live-in-a-technological-universe-in-w_566827.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/sherry-turkle-2764_communicating_we-live-in-a-technological-universe-in-w_566827.png) > “We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection.” [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that digital communication replaces deep conversation, eroding empathy and understanding. **In simple terms:** Tech replaces real talk. Key Takeaway Prioritize face‑to‑face dialogue. Themes technology communication relationships society Mood thoughtful concerned Type social educational When to use this quote - classroom - family dinner - work meetings - friend gatherings Key Concepts digital distraction social media human connection Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster deeper talks in daily life? - What habits can replace shallow texting? A Different Perspective People may resist reducing screen time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes the mere connection we make with each other can change people's lives. It doesn't have to be something big. The mere fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chath-piersath/sometimes-the-mere-connection-we-make-with-each-other-can-change/) [Chath Piersath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chath-piersath/) > [We're too busy communicating to think, too busy communicating to connect, and sometimes we're too busy communicating to create. This is true for individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-re-too-busy-communicating-to-think-too-busy-communicating-to/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [We think constant connection will make us feel less lonely. The opposite is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-think-constant-connection-will-make-us-feel-less-lonely-the/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [When communicating results to non-technical types there is nothing better than a clear visualization to make your point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tukey/when-communicating-results-to-non-technical-types-there-is-nothing/) [John Tukey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tukey/) > [The art of communicating is to speak with a non judging sensitivity and mean it rather than impulsively verbalizing whatever feelings arise; there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/the-art-of-communicating-is-to-speak-with-a-non-judging-sensitivity/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [The Spirit is as operative today in communicating the gospel to all who seek the truth as it was on the day of Pentecost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-spirit-is-as-operative-today-in-communicating-the-gospel-to-all/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [When I'm not working in a professional capacity, I'm writing, and when I'm at home, it's a way of having contact with people or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-cave/when-i-m-not-working-in-a-professional-capacity-i-m-writing-and-when/) [Jessie Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-cave/) > [The serialization through the Internet or through digital portals, means of ways of communicating, and I think that's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/the-serialization-through-the-internet-or-through-digital-portals/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [For one thing, my English isn't fantastic, and communicating in the dressing room is not always easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/for-one-thing-my-english-isn-t-fantastic-and-communicating-in-the/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [We live in a world in which we are able to communicate very quickly in many different ways, and yet we find communicating more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-we-are-able-to-communicate-very-quickly/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [I do think that if you've got a compelling argument to make in this country, going on television, going online, being on social media,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/i-do-think-that-if-you-ve-got-a-compelling-argument-to-make-in-this/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [“Questions are the natural agents of curiosity. To limit question is unnatural, against nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-agon/questions-are-the-natural-agents-of-curiosity-to-limit-question-is/) [Ted Agon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-agon/) > [People love to take sides, but it's not effective. It's not really an effective way of communicating something, because you're either already part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/people-love-to-take-sides-but-it-s-not-effective-it-s-not-really-an/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [I could say that making clothes is my way of communicating, because I was always so shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-could-say-that-making-clothes-is-my-way-of-communicating-because-i/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) ## More by Sherry Turkle > [“From watching children play with objects designed as “amusements,” we come to a new place, a place of cold comforts. Child and adult, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/from-watching-children-play-with-objects-designed-as-amusements-we/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“I said that we use digital “passbacks” to placate young children who say they are bored. We are not teaching them that boredom can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/i-said-that-we-use-digital-passbacks-to-placate-young-children-who/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“enduring technological optimism, a belief that as other things go wrong, science will go right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/enduring-technological-optimism-a-belief-that-as-other-things-go/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Conversation is the most human and humanizing thing that we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/conversation-is-the-most-human-and-humanizing-thing-that-we-do/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“In the classic children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit, a stuffed animal becomes “real” because of a child’s love. Tamagotchis do not wait passively but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/in-the-classic-children-s-story-the-velveteen-rabbit-a-stuffed-animal/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Human relationships are rich and they're messy and they're demanding. And we clean them up with technology. Texting, email, posting, all of these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/human-relationships-are-rich-and-they-re-messy-and-they-re-demanding/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“But at the same time, there is pressure to use technology in classroom in ways that make conversation nearly impossible. Interestingly, this technology is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/but-at-the-same-time-there-is-pressure-to-use-technology-in-classroom/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [I have to fight the impulse to use my phone as an alarm clock rather than leaving it in another room. If I don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/i-have-to-fight-the-impulse-to-use-my-phone-as-an-alarm-clock-rather/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [It all stems from the same thing - which is that when we are face to face - and this is what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/it-all-stems-from-the-same-thing-which-is-that-when-we-are-face-to/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [“The new technologies allow us to “dial down” human contact, to titrate its nature and extent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-new-technologies-allow-us-to-dial-down-human-contact-to-titrate/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [We think constant connection will make us feel less lonely. The opposite is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/we-think-constant-connection-will-make-us-feel-less-lonely-the/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [If you're happy with where the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter have taken you, I'm not the Grinch. Someone called me Sherry Turkle's "evil Luddite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/if-you-re-happy-with-where-the-internet-facebook-and-twitter-have/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [My highest value is not that the trains are on time. I want to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/my-highest-value-is-not-that-the-trains-are-on-time-i-want-to-be-free/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [The selfie, like all technology, causes us to reflect on our human values. This is a good thing because it challenges us to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/the-selfie-like-all-technology-causes-us-to-reflect-on-our-human/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) > [Technology doesn't just do things for us. It does things to us, changing not just what we do but who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-turkle/technology-doesn-t-just-do-things-for-us-it-does-things-to-us/) [Sherry Turkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) [Explore all 151 Sherry Turkle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-turkle/) ## More Communicating quotes > [I could say that making clothes is my way of communicating, because I was always so shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-could-say-that-making-clothes-is-my-way-of-communicating-because-i/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [People love to take sides, but it's not effective. It's not really an effective way of communicating something, because you're either already part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/people-love-to-take-sides-but-it-s-not-effective-it-s-not-really-an/) [Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/) > [“Questions are the natural agents of curiosity. To limit question is unnatural, against nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-agon/questions-are-the-natural-agents-of-curiosity-to-limit-question-is/) [Ted Agon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-agon/) > [I do think that if you've got a compelling argument to make in this country, going on television, going online, being on social media,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gaetz/i-do-think-that-if-you-ve-got-a-compelling-argument-to-make-in-this/) [Matt Gaetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gaetz/) > [We live in a world in which we are able to communicate very quickly in many different ways, and yet we find communicating more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-we-are-able-to-communicate-very-quickly/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [For one thing, my English isn't fantastic, and communicating in the dressing room is not always easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/for-one-thing-my-english-isn-t-fantastic-and-communicating-in-the/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [The serialization through the Internet or through digital portals, means of ways of communicating, and I think that's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/the-serialization-through-the-internet-or-through-digital-portals/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [When I'm not working in a professional capacity, I'm writing, and when I'm at home, it's a way of having contact with people or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-cave/when-i-m-not-working-in-a-professional-capacity-i-m-writing-and-when/) [Jessie Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-cave/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [The Spirit is as operative today in communicating the gospel to all who seek the truth as it was on the day of Pentecost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-spirit-is-as-operative-today-in-communicating-the-gospel-to-all/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The art of communicating is to speak with a non judging sensitivity and mean it rather than impulsively verbalizing whatever feelings arise; there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/the-art-of-communicating-is-to-speak-with-a-non-judging-sensitivity/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [When communicating results to non-technical types there is nothing better than a clear visualization to make your point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tukey/when-communicating-results-to-non-technical-types-there-is-nothing/) [John Tukey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tukey/) > [We are part of the zeitgeist, and we are communicating in a human, real way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/we-are-part-of-the-zeitgeist-and-we-are-communicating-in-a-human-real/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [“Those who don't question don't think. Those who don't think don't question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-agon/those-who-don-t-question-don-t-think-those-who-don-t-think-don-t/) [Ted Agon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-agon/) > [Friction and misunderstandings often occur when communicating across generations. It gets even more challenging when working across virtual settings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-arroyo/friction-and-misunderstandings-often-occur-when-communicating-across/) [Raymond Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-arroyo/) Browse all 305 Communicating quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We live in a technological universe in which we are always communicating. 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