---
title: "I can't go to a restaurant and order food because I keep looking at t… — Donald Knuth Quote #9 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "I can't go to a restaurant and order food because I keep looking at the fonts on the menu. — a quote by Donald Knuth."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # I can't go to a restaurant and order food because I keep looking at the fonts on the menu.

[Donald Knuth](https://quotesby.net/Donald-Knuth)\#9

[Design](https://quotesby.net/Donald-Knuth/design/)[Focus](https://quotesby.net/Donald-Knuth/focus/)[Details](https://quotesby.net/topics/details/)[Distraction](https://quotesby.net/topics/distraction/)[Perception](https://quotesby.net/topics/perception/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?The author cannot ignore technical details like typography even in daily life.In plain termsTechnical details distract from simple activities.What can you take from it?Expertise can change how you see everyday things.

### Where it applies

- daily life
- professional mindset
- design review

### Putting it to work

- typography check
- design audit
- focus training

### Questions to consider

- What details distract you?
- How does your job change your view?

### Another view

This is a personal habit, not a universal truth.

## More from Donald Knuth

1. > I define UNIX as 30 definitions of regular expressions living under one roof.

[Permalink to quote \#8](https://quotesby.net/Donald-Knuth/8/ "Permalink to quote 8")
2. > Email is a wonderful thing for people whose role in life is to be on top of things. But not for me; my role is to be on the bottom of things. What I do takes l…

[Permalink to quote \#10](https://quotesby.net/Donald-Knuth/10/ "Permalink to quote 10")
3. > A mathematical formula should never be 'owned' by anybody! Mathematics belong to God.

[Permalink to quote \#7](https://quotesby.net/Donald-Knuth/7/ "Permalink to quote 7")

## Related quotes

1. > Watching television is like taking black spray paint to your third eye.

[Bill Hicks](https://quotesby.net/Bill-Hicks)[Bill Hicks quote \#91](https://quotesby.net/Bill-Hicks/91/ "Permalink to quote 91")
2. > Go to work on an egg.

[Fay Weldon](https://quotesby.net/Fay-Weldon)[Fay Weldon quote \#1](https://quotesby.net/Fay-Weldon/1/ "Permalink to quote 1")
3. > Where there's no stop and go a thought may wet your face, a breath arreat your stare.

[Nathaniel Tarn](https://quotesby.net/Nathaniel-Tarn)[Nathaniel Tarn quote \#2](https://quotesby.net/Nathaniel-Tarn/2/ "Permalink to quote 2")

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