--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What bothers me is that there is so much…" description: "\"What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food, rather than gathering and meeting - so that there is all this effort in creating the right f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg" --- # What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food… ![“What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food, rather than gathering and meeting - so that there is all this effort in creating the right food, whereas the food is only a small part of whether the encounter is successful or not.” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg) > “What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food, rather than gathering and meeting - so that there is all this effort in creating the right food, whereas the food is only a small part of whether the encounter is successful or not.” [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social gatherings should prioritize human connection over culinary perfection. **In simple terms:** People matter more than food. Key Takeaway Focus on interaction, not just meals. Themes community relationships hospitality Mood contemplative warm Type philosophical social When to use this quote - family dinners - business lunches - friend gatherings Key Concepts social philosophy human connection Questions to Reflect On - How can you simplify meal planning for gatherings? - What non‑food elements enhance a meeting? A Different Perspective Excessive focus on food can cause stress and distraction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Encounter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounter/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [As we say in the American Institute of Wine and Food, small helpings, no seconds. A little bit of everything. No snacking. And have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/as-we-say-in-the-american-institute-of-wine-and-food-small-helpings/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [Maybe in America there's more of an emphasis on food than there should be. But when I look out at the audience during a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/maybe-in-america-there-s-more-of-an-emphasis-on-food-than-there/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [When I took command in Vietnam, I gave great emphasis to food and medical care - and to the mail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-westmoreland/when-i-took-command-in-vietnam-i-gave-great-emphasis-to-food-and/) [William Westmoreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-westmoreland/) > [It really bothers me when a guy is controlling. Dont just say Im picking the place - ask me where I want to go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-scerbo/it-really-bothers-me-when-a-guy-is-controlling-dont-just-say-im/) [Cassie Scerbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-scerbo/) > [People have the right to call themselves whatever they like. That doesn't bother me. It's other people doing the calling that bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-the-right-to-call-themselves-whatever-they-like-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never try to get ahead of myself because there's nothing that bothers me more than cockiness. I don't think that's necessary at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-never-try-to-get-ahead-of-myself-because-there-s-nothing-that/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [What bothers me most is that I don't bother you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/what-bothers-me-most-is-that-i-don-t-bother-you/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [In the past, there were many times when I thought, 'This photo doesn't look good with a low angle, or this part bothers me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayeon/in-the-past-there-were-many-times-when-i-thought-this-photo-doesn-t/) [Nayeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayeon/) > [When you're a mom to three children, nothing bothers you. Trust me. Who cares what people say? I've got other things to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/when-you-re-a-mom-to-three-children-nothing-bothers-you-trust-me-who/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [People frequently ask me if adverse criticism bothers me. I've had a lot of it, and I have been able to shrug most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/people-frequently-ask-me-if-adverse-criticism-bothers-me-i-ve-had-a/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [It bothers me when I hear it in a car commercial or some such. But for the most part, it's better than seeing sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/it-bothers-me-when-i-hear-it-in-a-car-commercial-or-some-such-but-for/) [Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/) > [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [What bothers me is when my players don't train well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kewell/what-bothers-me-is-when-my-players-don-t-train-well/) [Harry Kewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kewell/) > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) ## More by Alain de Botton > [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“He feared that by leaving her he would ruin her life - so he stayed, and did just that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/he-feared-that-by-leaving-her-he-would-ruin-her-life-so-he-stayed-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [You have to be quite heavily invested in someone to do them the honour of telling them you're annoyed with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/you-have-to-be-quite-heavily-invested-in-someone-to-do-them-the/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“The Anxiety of Sunday afternoon: your unlived lives and infinite possibility pressing upon the constraints of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-anxiety-of-sunday-afternoon-your-unlived-lives-and-infinite/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Those who divorce aren't necessarily the most unhappy, just those neatly able to believe their misery is caused by one other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/those-who-divorce-aren-t-necessarily-the-most-unhappy-just-those/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Insofar as we appreciate order, it is when we perceive it as being accompanied by complexity, when we feel that a variety of elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/insofar-as-we-appreciate-order-it-is-when-we-perceive-it-as-being/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I like the values associated with a medical family - common sense, being practical but also thoughtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/i-like-the-values-associated-with-a-medical-family-common-sense-being/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Anyone who urgently needs us deserves, in the true book of love, to be our friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/anyone-who-urgently-needs-us-deserves-in-the-true-book-of-love-to-be/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We can then recognize that we invented religions to serve two central needs which continue to this day and which secular society has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-can-then-recognize-that-we-invented-religions-to-serve-two-central/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [It is perhaps when our lives are at their most problematic that we are likely to be most receptive to beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/it-is-perhaps-when-our-lives-are-at-their-most-problematic-that-we/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Does what is praised becomes better? Does an emerald become worse if it isn't praised? And what a gold, ivory, a flower or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/does-what-is-praised-becomes-better-does-an-emerald-become-worse-if/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [The bourgeois thinkers of the eighteenth century thus turned Aristotle's formula on its head: satisfactions which the Greek philosopher had identified with leisure were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-bourgeois-thinkers-of-the-eighteenth-century-thus-turned/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Reputation matters so much only because people so seldom think for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/reputation-matters-so-much-only-because-people-so-seldom-think-for/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) [Explore all 850 Alain de Botton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## More Bothers quotes > [I think I need the demons in order to write, but the demons have gone. It bothers me a lot. I've tried and tried,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-think-i-need-the-demons-in-order-to-write-but-the-demons-have-gone/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [What bothers me is when my players don't train well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kewell/what-bothers-me-is-when-my-players-don-t-train-well/) [Harry Kewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kewell/) > [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [It bothers me when I hear it in a car commercial or some such. But for the most part, it's better than seeing sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/it-bothers-me-when-i-hear-it-in-a-car-commercial-or-some-such-but-for/) [Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/) > [People frequently ask me if adverse criticism bothers me. I've had a lot of it, and I have been able to shrug most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/people-frequently-ask-me-if-adverse-criticism-bothers-me-i-ve-had-a/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When you're a mom to three children, nothing bothers you. Trust me. Who cares what people say? I've got other things to deal with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/when-you-re-a-mom-to-three-children-nothing-bothers-you-trust-me-who/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [In the past, there were many times when I thought, 'This photo doesn't look good with a low angle, or this part bothers me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayeon/in-the-past-there-were-many-times-when-i-thought-this-photo-doesn-t/) [Nayeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayeon/) > [What bothers me most is that I don't bother you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/what-bothers-me-most-is-that-i-don-t-bother-you/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [I never try to get ahead of myself because there's nothing that bothers me more than cockiness. I don't think that's necessary at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-never-try-to-get-ahead-of-myself-because-there-s-nothing-that/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [People have the right to call themselves whatever they like. That doesn't bother me. It's other people doing the calling that bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-have-the-right-to-call-themselves-whatever-they-like-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It really bothers me when a guy is controlling. Dont just say Im picking the place - ask me where I want to go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-scerbo/it-really-bothers-me-when-a-guy-is-controlling-dont-just-say-im/) [Cassie Scerbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-scerbo/) > [To me, score is really important. I would rather not have any score if it's something that's going to detract from the film. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/to-me-score-is-really-important-i-would-rather-not-have-any-score-if/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [If I see something I don't like, or something that bothers me, I can't hold it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cheban/if-i-see-something-i-don-t-like-or-something-that-bothers-me-i-can-t/) [Jonathan Cheban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cheban/) > [“If it bothers you to see me when then stop looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-barnes/if-it-bothers-you-to-see-me-when-then-stop-looking/) [Victoria Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-barnes/) Browse all 150 Bothers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food, rather than gathering and meeting - so that there is all this effort in creating the right food, whereas the food is only a small part of whether the encounter is successful or not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alain de Botton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much-emphasis-on-food-rather-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bothers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much-emphasis-on-food-rather-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/alain-de-botton-221_bothers_what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much_820493.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food, rather than gathering and meeting - so that there…” — Alain de Botton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alain de Botton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What bothers me is that there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much-emphasis-on-food-rather-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/what-bothers-me-is-that-there-is-so-much-emphasis-on-food-rather-than/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```