--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, this is why I just don't answer…" description: "\"You know, this is why I just don't answer the door (unless I know who's arriving). I don't want to fend off pint-sized salesfolk or tie-with-short-slee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/ann-althouse-61530_adults_you-know-this-is-why-i-just-don-t-answer_915371.png" --- # You know, this is why I just don't answer the door (unless… ![“You know, this is why I just don't answer the door (unless I know who's arriving). I don't want to fend off pint-sized salesfolk or tie-with-short-sleeved-shirt-wearing adults. But if you are going to answer the door in your own house, what's wrong with being armed? What makes people feel entitled…” quote by Ann Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/ann-althouse-61530_adults_you-know-this-is-why-i-just-don-t-answer_915371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/ann-althouse-61530_adults_you-know-this-is-why-i-just-don-t-answer_915371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/ann-althouse-61530_adults_you-know-this-is-why-i-just-don-t-answer_915371.png) > “You know, this is why I just don't answer the door (unless I know who's arriving). I don't want to fend off pint-sized salesfolk or tie-with-short-sleeved-shirt-wearing adults. But if you are going to answer the door in your own house, what's wrong with being armed? What makes people feel entitled to a kid-friendly greeting when they disturb random strangers in their homes?” [Ann Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-althouse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal security and privacy justify refusing unknown visitors, questioning societal expectations of hospitality. **In simple terms:** Protect your home, set boundaries. Key Takeaway Set clear boundaries for visitors. Themes privacy security boundaries hospitality Mood cautious defensive Type ethical practical When to use this quote - home security - doorbell cameras - personal safety - social etiquette Key Concepts personal autonomy social norms self‑defense Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to be open to strangers? - How do we balance safety with kindness? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on privacy can erode community trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Answer Door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-door-365328/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Armed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed/) [Arriving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arriving/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Entitled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entitled/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly/) [Friendly Greeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly-greeting-1373242/) [Greeting Disturb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greeting-disturb-1373240/) [Greetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greetings/) [Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pints/) [Shirts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shirts/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Strangers Homes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers-homes-1373241/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [“He will give you a friendly greeting in return and ask if you are a northerner. You reply that you are from Eyjafjord. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-will-give-you-a-friendly-greeting-in-return-and-ask-if-you-are-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The contrast between the friendly greeting and the weapons propped against their shoulders is almost humorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-contrast-between-the-friendly-greeting-and-the-weapons-propped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never said I'd answer your front door. Never better to be. But I can see how your own shoe laces make you bleed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cage-the-elephant/i-never-said-i-d-answer-your-front-door-never-better-to-be-but-i-can/) [Cage The Elephant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cage-the-elephant/) > [People who live in a glass house have to answer the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/people-who-live-in-a-glass-house-have-to-answer-the-door/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [People who live in glass houses... have to answer the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/people-who-live-in-glass-houses-have-to-answer-the-door/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [Don't answer the door in a wedding dress and veil, he might not think you're joking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/don-t-answer-the-door-in-a-wedding-dress-and-veil-he-might-not-think/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [“I dinna normally answer the door." "Ah," Strath said, offering a charming smile as he whipped off his hat. "You are doing a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-dinna-normally-answer-the-door-ah-strath-said-offering-a-charming/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I'm not opposed to anything. If an opportunity comes across, I'll answer the door if it comes knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brown/i-m-not-opposed-to-anything-if-an-opportunity-comes-across-i-ll/) [Rob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brown/) > [Making money is not gonna change anything about what I am, except I won't answer the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/making-money-is-not-gonna-change-anything-about-what-i-am-except-i/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [This is how you answer a door in my neighborhood. WHO IS IT?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/this-is-how-you-answer-a-door-in-my-neighborhood-who-is-it/) [Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/) > [You might as well answer the door, my child, the truth is furiously knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/you-might-as-well-answer-the-door-my-child-the-truth-is-furiously/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“They may enjoy the trip up here, but y’all, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna answer the door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-akart/they-may-enjoy-the-trip-up-here-but-y-all-that-doesn-t-mean-i-m-gonna/) [Bobby Akart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-akart/) > [“I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and hey…if I don’t answer the door right away it probably means I’m doing some weight training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-see-you-in-the-morning-oh-and-hey-if-i-don-t-answer-the-door/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Opportunity knocks at any time in life and everybody should answer that door when it does. Go for it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-redman/opportunity-knocks-at-any-time-in-life-and-everybody-should-answer/) [Amanda Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-redman/) > [“Happiness isn't something that you plan for. It comes knocking unexpectedly, just like opportunity. And it's up to you to answer the door and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-doughton/happiness-isn-t-something-that-you-plan-for-it-comes-knocking/) [Autumn Doughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-doughton/) ## More by Ann Althouse > [A year ago, you wanted to give up because we were losing, and now, you want to give up because we're winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-althouse/a-year-ago-you-wanted-to-give-up-because-we-were-losing-and-now-you/) [Ann Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-althouse/) > [Nowadays, you have to hire a blogger to fend off the bloggers. This blogging game is playing out nicely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-althouse/nowadays-you-have-to-hire-a-blogger-to-fend-off-the-bloggers-this/) [Ann Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-althouse/) > [If you eat meat, something like that is going on in the background for you too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-althouse/if-you-eat-meat-something-like-that-is-going-on-in-the-background-for/) [Ann Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-althouse/) > [Why does the left hate free speech? Because they don't know how to talk about the substantive merits when they are challenged. Having submerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-althouse/why-does-the-left-hate-free-speech-because-they-don-t-know-how-to/) [Ann Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-althouse/) [Explore all 5 Ann Althouse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-althouse/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, this is why I just don't answer the door (unless I know who's arriving). I don't want to fend off pint-sized salesfolk or tie-with-short-sleeved-shirt-wearing adults. But if you are going to answer the door in your own house, what's wrong with being armed? 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