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77 Interesting Quotes By Adam Savage

Famous As: Industrial designer
Born On: July 15, 1967
Born In: New York City
Age: 55 Years

Noted for Discovery Channel’s television shows ‘MythBusters’ and ‘Unchained Reaction’, Adam Whitney Savage is a renowned American actor, educator, television celebrity, industrial designer and special effect fabricator. Savage appeared in prominent roles in blockbusters such as Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and ‘The Matrix Reloaded’. Originally, a member of the skeptic community, Savage played key role as an animator and special effect designer in movies such as Galaxy Quest, Bicentennial Man, Space Cowboys and many more. Savage also made occasional television appearances in other shows such as Curiosity and Diggnation. He previously worked as a professor at Academy of Art University in San Francisco in the department of Industrial Design. He is also an editor and contributor at Tested.com. His thoughts and sayings highlight the importance of science, data, analysis, conceptualization, knowledge, ideas, innovation, creativity etc. Here are some of the quotes from this living legend of special effects and design.

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I reject your reality and substitute my own.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

Adam Savage
Being a geek is all about learning the inventories of things.

Being a geek is all about learning the inventories of things.

Adam Savage
Failure is always an option.

Failure is always an option.

Adam Savage
We are always works in progress. You will hurt people you love, and help people you detest. This is called being a human and it happens to everyone.

We are always works in progress. You will hurt people you love, and help people you detest. This is called being a human and it happens to everyone.

Adam Savage
If I had any dignity, that would have been humiliating.

If I had any dignity, that would have been humiliating.

Adam Savage
Don't work for fools. It's not worth it. Getting paid less to work for people you like and believe in is much better for you (and your career) in the long run.

Don't work for fools. It's not worth it. Getting paid less to work for people you like and believe in is much better for you (and your career) in the long run.

Adam Savage

I have concluded through careful empirical analysis and much thought that somebody is looking out for me, keeping track of what I think about things, forgiving me when I do less than I ought. Giving me strength to shoot for more than I think I’m capable of. I believe they know everything that I do and think, and they still love me, and I’ve concluded, after careful consideration, that this person keeping score is me

Adam Savage
The coolest toys don't have to be bought; they can be built. In fact, sometimes the only way they'll ever exist is if you make them yourself.

The coolest toys don't have to be bought; they can be built. In fact, sometimes the only way they'll ever exist is if you make them yourself.

Adam Savage
It's sort of a mental attitude about critical thinking and curiosity. It's about mindset of looking at the world in a playful and curious and creative way.

It's sort of a mental attitude about critical thinking and curiosity. It's about mindset of looking at the world in a playful and curious and creative way.

Adam Savage
I like to work fast. I despise not having the right tool or, worse, knowing I have it but not being able to find it. It's a pointless delay that wrecks my pace - and mood.

I like to work fast. I despise not having the right tool or, worse, knowing I have it but not being able to find it. It's a pointless delay that wrecks my pace - and mood.

Adam Savage
In the spirit of science, there really is no such thing as a 'failed experiment.' Any test that yields valid data is a valid test.

In the spirit of science, there really is no such thing as a 'failed experiment.' Any test that yields valid data is a valid test.

Adam Savage
I learned at an early age that I could make the things that I wanted. That's a very powerful thing to realize as a kid. LEGOs were a key part of that.

I learned at an early age that I could make the things that I wanted. That's a very powerful thing to realize as a kid. LEGOs were a key part of that.

Adam Savage
I find that your basic Internet chat board is way too vitriolic for my taste.

I find that your basic Internet chat board is way too vitriolic for my taste.

Adam Savage
Deadlines refine the mind. They remove variables like exotic materials and processes that take too long. The closer the deadline, the more likely you'll start thinking waaay outside the box.

Deadlines refine the mind. They remove variables like exotic materials and processes that take too long. The closer the deadline, the more likely you'll start thinking waaay outside the box.

Adam Savage
Sometimes my brain writes a check that reality can't cash.

Sometimes my brain writes a check that reality can't cash.

Adam Savage
I think one of the defining moments of adulthood is the realization that nobody's going to take care of you. That you have to do the heavy lifting while you're here. And when you don't, well, you suffer the consequences.

I think one of the defining moments of adulthood is the realization that nobody's going to take care of you. That you have to do the heavy lifting while you're here. And when you don't, well, you suffer the consequences.

Adam Savage

I'm always going to be making costumes. It's one of the ways I relax my brain. In addition to the pleasure of having the piece, there is a deep and abiding pleasure for me assembling something in my head - learning to know something in its totality in my head, and then putting together all the constituent parts into a cohesive whole.

Adam Savage
The only thing that differentiates you and me from a couple of fourteen year old pyromaniacs is balistic glass!

The only thing that differentiates you and me from a couple of fourteen year old pyromaniacs is balistic glass!

Adam Savage
There's this group online that I frequent. It's a group of prop crazies just like me called the Replica Props Forum, and it's people who trade, make and travel in information about movie props.

There's this group online that I frequent. It's a group of prop crazies just like me called the Replica Props Forum, and it's people who trade, make and travel in information about movie props.

Adam Savage
I have some ideas on how to fix that. They're not very good ideas, but at least they're ideas!

I have some ideas on how to fix that. They're not very good ideas, but at least they're ideas!

Adam Savage
Am I about to feel really, really stupid?

Am I about to feel really, really stupid?

Adam Savage
We don't necessarily stand by our faults every time, but we will always stand by our methodologies and ethos.

We don't necessarily stand by our faults every time, but we will always stand by our methodologies and ethos.

Adam Savage
I've learned over decades of building that a deadline is a potent tool for problem-solving.

I've learned over decades of building that a deadline is a potent tool for problem-solving.

Adam Savage

From earliest times, humans - explorers and thinkers - have wanted to figure out the shape of their world. Forever, the way we've done that is through storytelling. It is difficult to let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Adam Savage
Stand back! I gotta get some rocket fuel out of the fridge!

Stand back! I gotta get some rocket fuel out of the fridge!

Adam Savage
That's our job - to strap rockets onto everything.

That's our job - to strap rockets onto everything.

Adam Savage

I'm not a sculptor; I'm a hard-edged model maker. You give me a drawing, you give me a prop to replicate, you give me a crane, scaffolding, parts from 'Star Wars' - especially parts from 'Star Wars' - I can do this stuff all day long. It's exactly how I made my living for 15 years.

Adam Savage
I would have to say that looked like it hurt.

I would have to say that looked like it hurt.

Adam Savage
I believe that inside every tool is a hammer.

I believe that inside every tool is a hammer.

Adam Savage

I think at this point, there's a certain bizarre chemistry between Jamie [Hyneman] and I that we can't ignore a lot of the mechanics of, that we're quite aware of. Half of it is absolutely genuine, and half of it is us playing around with that fact.

Adam Savage
I'm obsessed with the form of a toolbox. The idea of a portable kit that has everything you might need ignites something inside me. It's like Batman's utility belt.

I'm obsessed with the form of a toolbox. The idea of a portable kit that has everything you might need ignites something inside me. It's like Batman's utility belt.

Adam Savage

Mostly I make lists for projects. This can be daunting. Breaking something big into its constituent parts will help you organize your thoughts, but it can also force you to confront the depth of your ignorance and the hugeness of the task. That's OK. The project may be the lion, but the list is your whip.

Adam Savage
I'm actually the fourth generation in my family to have no practical use for the church, or God, or religion. My children continue this trend.

I'm actually the fourth generation in my family to have no practical use for the church, or God, or religion. My children continue this trend.

Adam Savage
New York State is giant and has some of the most beautiful landscape on the Eastern seaboard. There is so much history in New York State, from the Erie Canal to the Catskills, the birth of American stand-up comedy.

New York State is giant and has some of the most beautiful landscape on the Eastern seaboard. There is so much history in New York State, from the Erie Canal to the Catskills, the birth of American stand-up comedy.

Adam Savage
The difference between screwing around and science is writing it down.

The difference between screwing around and science is writing it down.

Adam Savage

That aesthetic of the Star Wars universe: the do-it-yourself, hotrod ethic that George Lucas exported from his childhood, is exactly the same kind of soul behind what we do and build for the show. It may not look pretty, but it gets the job done.

Adam Savage

The fact is that the British Museum had a complete specimen of a dodo in their collection up until the 18th century - it was actually mummified, skin and all - but in a fit of space-saving zeal, they actually cut off the head and they cut off the feet and they burned the rest in a bonfire.

Adam Savage

Whether it's the experiments on 'MythBusters' or my earlier work in special effects for movies, I've regularly had to do things that were never done before, from designing complex motion-control rigs to figuring out how to animate chocolate.

Adam Savage
Walking the floor at a con dressed as Chewbacca, you might as well be Bono. I mean it's ridiculous. People just walk up and grab you and hold you, because they love Chewbacca so much.

Walking the floor at a con dressed as Chewbacca, you might as well be Bono. I mean it's ridiculous. People just walk up and grab you and hold you, because they love Chewbacca so much.

Adam Savage
When in doubt, C-4.

When in doubt, C-4.

Adam Savage
The Internet is probably the most important technological advancement of my lifetime. Its strength lies in its open architecture and its ability to allow a framework where all voices can be heard.

The Internet is probably the most important technological advancement of my lifetime. Its strength lies in its open architecture and its ability to allow a framework where all voices can be heard.

Adam Savage
We're allowed to explore the world at large on these things; the urban-legend aspect of it is just kind of an excuse.

We're allowed to explore the world at large on these things; the urban-legend aspect of it is just kind of an excuse.

Adam Savage
If I haven't had any long term psychological side effects from all the things I've already done on this show, this isn't gonna hurt much more.

If I haven't had any long term psychological side effects from all the things I've already done on this show, this isn't gonna hurt much more.

Adam Savage

Prayer doesn't work because someone out there is listening, it works because someone in here is listening. I've paid attention. I've pictured what I want to happen in my life. I've meditated extensively on my family, my future, my past actions and what did and didn't work for me about them.

Adam Savage
There are women who are wishing that they were that piece of tape right now.

There are women who are wishing that they were that piece of tape right now.

Adam Savage

The idea of an ordered and elegant universe is a lovely one. One worth clinging to. But you don't need religion to appreciate the ordered existence. It's not just an idea, it's reality. We're discovering the hidden orders of the universe every day.

Adam Savage

I felt like I had kind of played it out, and I wanted to see what was next, and then came Mythbusters. You know, it's the best job I've ever had, on its worst day it's better than anything else, but it's a huge amount of responsibility, and there are days when just going into work and building something from someone else's drawing sounds like going back to heaven.

Adam Savage
The skeptical community is absolutely near and dear to the 'Mythbusters' heart and there's no small reason that they've embraced us. That's our people. That's the way we like to think.

The skeptical community is absolutely near and dear to the 'Mythbusters' heart and there's no small reason that they've embraced us. That's our people. That's the way we like to think.

Adam Savage

Growing up in New York, I was sort of shocked when I realized that my children are Californians. They are 14 years old, and I explain to them frequently that they will never realize the glory of a snow day. You wake up and the world says, 'Oops, it's too much fun to go to school, you've got to stay home and deal with the snow!'

Adam Savage

I think the whole thing that Jamie [Hyneman] and I have in working together is that we are constantly simplifying each other's designs, and we both appreciate that the quickest and the dirtiest solution is usually the most elegant, the least expensive, and the fastest.

Adam Savage
We cleared all traces of our occupation out of M6 and moved to M7, and it's been quite smooth over there. We chose a place all the way at the end of an industrial park.

We cleared all traces of our occupation out of M6 and moved to M7, and it's been quite smooth over there. We chose a place all the way at the end of an industrial park.

Adam Savage

I find it's too much for me to read endless critiques, even if we're being well-defended, of exactly what we're doing. When someone tells us something we're doing wrong on the boards, we try to respond, we try to be responsive to the fan boards, but yeah, I can't read them.

Adam Savage
It's a treat to see the sun rise over the desert. What am I saying? It's a treat to fire off a rocket car over the desert!

It's a treat to see the sun rise over the desert. What am I saying? It's a treat to fire off a rocket car over the desert!

Adam Savage
How hard can it be to blow up a room full of gasoline?!

How hard can it be to blow up a room full of gasoline?!

Adam Savage
After all those years of doing remote detonations, where we just push a button and something explodes, to actually see a nice big fat line of black smoke heading toward something that will blow up is very satisfying.

After all those years of doing remote detonations, where we just push a button and something explodes, to actually see a nice big fat line of black smoke heading toward something that will blow up is very satisfying.

Adam Savage
Failure is always an option

Failure is always an option

Adam Savage
Am I missing an eyebrow?

Am I missing an eyebrow?

Adam Savage
Gravity. It's not just a good idea; it's the law!

Gravity. It's not just a good idea; it's the law!

Adam Savage

I had saved a few hundred photos of dodo skeletons into my 'Creative Projects' folder - it's a repository for my brain, everything that I could possibly be interested in. Any time I have an Internet connection, there's a sluice of stuff moving into there, everything from beautiful rings to cockpit photos.

Adam Savage

Audiences of critical thinkers are my favorite kinds of audiences. There are jokes I tell in the show that don't get laughs unless I am in front of an audience of critical thinkers. Put me in front of a crowd of science teachers or astronauts! The guileless aren't our audience - it's the critical thinkers we love.

Adam Savage
The explosions, like the urban legends, are a great way of bringing people in to watch, because it's really fun, and you know we're always going to give you a satisfying ending.

The explosions, like the urban legends, are a great way of bringing people in to watch, because it's really fun, and you know we're always going to give you a satisfying ending.

Adam Savage

Technology is usually there to let some process go on hidden in the background. For us on 'MythBusters,' we're always trying to make the process apparent. So, we have learned to try and never rely on a technological solution when an analogue one is in front of us.

Adam Savage
We didn't set out to be educators or even scientists, and we don't purport that what we do is real science but we're demonstrating a methodology by which one can engage and satisfy your curiosity.

We didn't set out to be educators or even scientists, and we don't purport that what we do is real science but we're demonstrating a methodology by which one can engage and satisfy your curiosity.

Adam Savage
Of course, I love tools. I also love arranging them, to the point where I came up with a name for my organizing metric: first-order retrievability.

Of course, I love tools. I also love arranging them, to the point where I came up with a name for my organizing metric: first-order retrievability.

Adam Savage
I'm not gonna shoot anyone with the pellet gun... Not unless I have to!

I'm not gonna shoot anyone with the pellet gun... Not unless I have to!

Adam Savage
I wouldn't say jamie is an evil genius. I'm not sure he's evil and I'm not sure he's a genius.

I wouldn't say jamie is an evil genius. I'm not sure he's evil and I'm not sure he's a genius.

Adam Savage
I think LEGOs are one of the best toys ever developed.

I think LEGOs are one of the best toys ever developed.

Adam Savage
I am now standing in a mixture of cooling fluid, gasoline, and cola.

I am now standing in a mixture of cooling fluid, gasoline, and cola.

Adam Savage
I believe that rules do not make us moral; loving each other makes us moral.

I believe that rules do not make us moral; loving each other makes us moral.

Adam Savage
Bigger is always better.

Bigger is always better.

Adam Savage
Firemen have the coolest toys ever!

Firemen have the coolest toys ever!

Adam Savage
This is the point in the show where we say, 'Oh, what else do we have in the van that's flammable?'

This is the point in the show where we say, 'Oh, what else do we have in the van that's flammable?'

Adam Savage
When I finally got up to Industrial Light And Magic to work on the 'Star Wars' movies as a model-maker, it felt like dying and going to heaven.

When I finally got up to Industrial Light And Magic to work on the 'Star Wars' movies as a model-maker, it felt like dying and going to heaven.

Adam Savage
Sticks and stones can only break bones; but words can shatter the soul

Sticks and stones can only break bones; but words can shatter the soul

Adam Savage
Bad spellers of the world untie!

Bad spellers of the world untie!

Adam Savage
My workplace is wherever I'm making something, which could be in a field in gold country, or in an abandoned warehouse on a military base.

My workplace is wherever I'm making something, which could be in a field in gold country, or in an abandoned warehouse on a military base.

Adam Savage
Jack of all trades, master of none, though often better than a master of one.

Jack of all trades, master of none, though often better than a master of one.

Adam Savage