Before became a box office hit, it was a beloved gem by author . His debut novel, released in 2011, won numerous awards and countless fans for its strong and engaging storyline, relatable characters, and heart-pounding action. Part of what makes the so memorable is that it’s much more than it appears at surface level. Not just a sci-fi/fantasy romp, it's a story with real-world lessons and takeaways about the dangers posed by invasive tech, the impact of poverty, and the human desire for belonging. Narrated by actor Wil Wheaton, the book and its sequel are well worth a listen—or a re-listen.
Serious and cynical, filled with life lessons and reflections on honesty, faith, connection, and reality, here are 20 of the best quotes from Ready Player One.
1. "Being human totally sucks most of the time. Videogames are the only thing that make life bearable."
2. "No one in the world gets what they want and that is beautiful."
3. "I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real."
4. "You don't live in the real world... You're like me. You live inside this illusion."
5. "One person can keep a secret, but not two."
6. "For a bunch of hairless apes, we've actually managed to invent some pretty incredible things."
7. "You’d be amazed how much research you can get done when you have no life whatsoever. Twelve hours a day, seven days a week, is a lot of study time."
8. "Talking to girls was out of the question. To me, they were like some exotic alien species, both beautiful and terrifying."
9. "We sat there awhile, holding hands, reveling in the strange new sensation of actually touching one another."
10. "Some time later, she leaned over and kissed me. It felt like all those songs and poems had promised it would. It felt wonderful. Like being struck by lightning."
11. "I'd come to see my rig for what it was: an elaborate contraption for deceiving my senses, to allow me to live in a world that didn't exist. Each component of my rig was a bar in a cell where I had willingly imprisoned myself."
12. "Capitalism would inch forward, without my actually having to interact face-to-face with another human being. Which was exactly how I preferred it, thank you."
13. "The ability to mute my peers was one of my favorite things about attending school online, and I took advantage of it almost daily."
14. "I tried to keep my cool. I tried to remain skeptical. I reminded myself that I was a man of science, even if I did usually get a C in it."
