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'Mountains, Bruce, mountains,' the manager said. 'Mountains, Bruce, mountains,' Bruce said and gazed. 'Echolalia, Bruce, echolalia,' the manager said. 'Echolalia, Bruce-' 'Okay, Bruce,' the manager said, and shut the cabin door behind him, thinking, I believe I'll put him among the carrots. Or beets. Something simple. Something that won't puzzle him.

Philip Kindred Dick#49

Philip kindred dickPowerControlManagementRepetitionSimplification

About this quote

What does it mean?
A character repeats words endlessly while being dismissed as mentally simple by a manager.
In plain terms
Bruce repeats words like a parrot while the manager decides to put him with simple things.
What can you take from it?
Repetitive behavior is often dismissed as mental simplicity.

Where it applies

  • dealing with repetitive behavior
  • managing staff
  • discussing mental health

Putting it to work

  • managing difficult situations
  • writing character studies
  • analyzing control

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle repetitive communication?
  • What makes something simple or complex?

Another view

The ending reduces a complex human to an object for placement.

More from Philip Kindred Dick

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  3. I saw Substance D growing. I saw death rising from the earth, from the ground itself, in one blue field, in stubbled color.

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