Baby Quote by William Gibson
“Personally I like to imagine something the size of a baby hippo, the color of a week-old boiled potato, that lives by itself, in the dark, in a double-wide on the outskirts of Topeka. It's covered with eyes and it sweats constantly. The sweat runs into those eyes and makes them sting. It has no mouth, no genitals, and can only express its mute extremes of murderous rage and infantile desire by changing the channels on a universal remote. Or by voting in presidential elections.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Neuromancer sequel concept, 1980s speculative fiction
The description creates a grotesque, surreal creature symbolizing unchecked technological and political power.
In simple terms: A bizarre entity embodies chaotic, oppressive systems.
Key Takeaway
Question the dehumanizing effects of technology and politics.
Themes
technology
politics
surrealism
power
alienation
Mood
cautionary
provocative
Type
fiction
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban decay
- electronic surveillance
- political campaigns
- media manipulation
Key Concepts
posthumanism
media control
surveillance
consumerism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does technology reshape identity?
- What safeguards prevent authoritarian control?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex systemic issues.
![“Back in the kitchen, Mummy was trying to make her [knitted] hippo stand up on the table. I had to swallow a gasp of horror -- its head was the same size as its body, none of its limbs were equal in length, and it appeared to have a fin. She didn't seem perturbed and carried on trying to make it…” quote by Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c4/hester-browne-25208_quote_back-in-the-kitchen-mummy-was-trying-to_898464.jpg)
