Shaking Quote by Tom Robbins
““a sudden squawked command caused everyone within earshot to act for a split second as if they were shaking invisible martinis””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Another Roadside Attraction, 1971
A sudden, absurd command forces immediate, chaotic reaction as if everyone were drinking invisible martinis.
In simple terms: A bizarre order makes people act instantly and oddly.
Key Takeaway
Embrace spontaneity, but question absurd directives.
Themes
absurdity
reaction
chaos
social influence
Mood
confused
amused
critical
Type
humorous
observational
When to use this quote
- party scenes
- emergency drills
- performance art
- improvisational theater
Key Concepts
psychology
behavioral response
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if faced with a nonsensical command?
- How does absurdity affect group behavior?
A Different Perspective
Such commands can cause panic or loss of rational judgment.
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
![“You can't believe any picture nowadays, if it's digital. You can't really believe. If you see me shaking hands with Mr. [Barack] Obama, it doesn't mean I ever met him, does it?” quote by David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/26e/david-hockney-1395_barack_you-can-t-believe-any-picture-nowadays-i_36556.jpg)
