# Quote — Theodore Sturgeon, More Than Human

> Reality isn’t the most pleasant of atmospheres, Lieutenant. But we like to think we’re engineered for it. It’s a pretty fine piece of engineering, the kind an engineer can respect. Drag in an obsession and reality can’t tolerate it. Something has to give; if reality goes, your fine piece of engineering is left with nothing to operate on. So it operates badly. So kick the obsession out; start functioning the way you were designed to function.

- Author: [Theodore Sturgeon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/theodore-sturgeon.md)
- Book: [More Than Human](https://www.leafyquotes.com/theodore-sturgeon/more-than-human.md)
- Page: 146
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Theodore_Sturgeon#More_Than_Human_(1953)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/theodore-sturgeon/more-than-human/reality-isnt-the

## More from this book

> There’s this about a farm: when the market’s good there’s money, and when it’s bad there’s food.

p. 34 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/theodore-sturgeon/more-than-human/theres-this-about.md)

> The most human thing about anyone is a thing he learns and … and earns. It’s a thing he can’t have when he’s very young; if he gets it at all, he gets it after a long search and a deep conviction. After that it’s truly part of him as long as he lives.

p. 184 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/theodore-sturgeon/more-than-human/the-most-human.md)

> Do you know what morals are? Morals are an obedience to rules that people laid down to help you live among them.

p. 181 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/theodore-sturgeon/more-than-human/do-you-know.md)