Bubble bath Quote by Tom Robbins
““Take now the clockworks... The clockworks, being genuine and not much to look at, don't generate the drama of an Earth-tilt or a flying saucer, nor do they seem to offer any immediate panacea for humanity's fifty-seven varieties of heartburn. But suppose that you're one of those persons who feels trapped, to some degree, trapped matrimonially, occupationally, eductionally or geographically, or trapped in something larger than all those; trapped in a system, or what you might descrbie as an "incresingly deadening technocracy" or a "theater of paranoia and desperation" or something like that. Now, if you are one of those persons... wouldn't the very knowledge that there are clockworks ticking away behind the wallpaper of civilization, unbeknownst to leaders, organizers and managers (the President included), wouldn't that knowledge, suggesting as it does the possibility of unimaginable alternatives, wouldn't that knowledge be a bubble bath for your heart?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Another Roadside Attraction, 1971
The metaphor of hidden mechanisms (clockworks) suggests unseen forces shape life; recognizing them can inspire hope for alternatives.
In simple terms: Seeing hidden systems can give hope for change.
Seek awareness of underlying structures.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career stagnation
- political disillusionment
- personal growth
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden systems influence your life?
- How can awareness become practical change?
Understanding may not easily translate to action.