---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I say, did you hear me?\" The old man…"
description: "\"“I say, did you hear me?\" The old man shook a worn walking stick at the oak. \"I said move it and I meant it! I was sitting on that rock\" -he pointed to..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg"
---

#  I say, did you hear me?" The old man shook a worn walking…

![“I say, did you hear me?&quot; The old man shook a worn walking stick at the oak. &quot;I said move it and I meant it! I was sitting on that rock&quot; -he pointed to a boulder- &quot;enjoying the rising sun on my old bones when you had the nerve to cast a shadow over it and chill me! Move this instant. I say!&quot; The…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg)

> ““I say, did you hear me?" The old man shook a worn walking stick at the oak. "I said move it and I meant it! I was sitting on that rock" -he pointed to a boulder- "enjoying the rising sun on my old bones when you had the nerve to cast a shadow over it and chill me! Move this instant. I say!" The tree did not respond. It also did not move. "I won't take any more of your insolence!" The old man began to beat on the tree with his stick. "Move or I'll - I'll -" "Someone shut that looney in a cage!" Fewmaster Toede shouted, galloping back from the front of the caravan. "Get your hands off me!" the old man shreiked at the draconians who ran up and accosted him. He beat on them feebly with his staff until they took it away from him. "Arrest the tree!" he insisted. "Obstructing sunlight! That's the charge!””

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage satirizes futile authority and absurd grievances, highlighting how petty demands clash with indifferent nature.

**In simple terms:** A grumpy old man fights a tree and gets mocked.

Key Takeaway

Petty authority meets indifferent reality.

Themes

satire authority absurdity human vs nature

Mood

ironic absurd

Type

satirical narrative

When to use this quote

- bureaucratic disputes
- customer service complaints
- political protests

Key Concepts

social critique power dynamics

Practical Applications

- use humor to defuse conflict
- recognize when a fight is futile

Questions to Reflect On

- When does standing up become pointless?
- How can humor reveal hidden power imbalances?

A Different Perspective

The exaggerated scenario may distract from genuine grievances that deserve attention.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dragonlance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragonlance/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Rising Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising-sun/)

## Related quotes

> [We two remake our world by naming it / Together, knowing what words mean for us / And for the other for whom current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-two-remake-our-world-by-naming-it-together-knowing-what-words-mean/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“And in the centre of the clearing, my dear Florence,’ she was saying, without apparently having broken her conversational stride, ‘we have . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-kinsey/and-in-the-centre-of-the-clearing-my-dear-florence-she-was-saying/)

[T E Kinsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-kinsey/)

> [My grandad used to say 'You're at the top of your tree,' and even though I wasn't, it always spurred me on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harris-dickinson/my-grandad-used-to-say-you-re-at-the-top-of-your-tree-and-even-though/)

[Harris Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harris-dickinson/)

> [“Do you say that tree isn't pretty cause it doesn't look like that tree? We're all trees. You're a tree. I'm a tree. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/do-you-say-that-tree-isn-t-pretty-cause-it-doesn-t-look-like-that/)

[Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/)

> [How old is she now?" he asked. "Hard to say. She was a tree for a while. Now she's immortal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/how-old-is-she-now-he-asked-hard-to-say-she-was-a-tree-for-a-while/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Give me the end of the year an' its fun When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done; Bring all the wanderers home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-guest/give-me-the-end-of-the-year-an-its-fun-when-most-of-the-plannin-an/)

[Edgar Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-guest/)

> [They had the music being piped right out on the street. I'd be three or four blocks from there and I couldn't get there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcshann/they-had-the-music-being-piped-right-out-on-the-street-i-d-be-three/)

[Jay McShann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcshann/)

> [I strain to hear, but my old ears, for all their obscene hugeness, pick up nothing but snippets:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/i-strain-to-hear-but-my-old-ears-for-all-their-obscene-hugeness-pick/)

[Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/)

> [Young men, hear an old man to whom old men hearkened when he was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus/young-men-hear-an-old-man-to-whom-old-men-hearkened-when-he-was-young/)

[Augustus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus/)

> [“As we move further away I can hear the old lady say, “Remember when we were like that, Ed?” To which the old man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-bloom/as-we-move-further-away-i-can-hear-the-old-lady-say-remember-when-we/)

[Anna Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-bloom/)

> [“And my eyes! I see through hourglass pupils and therefore I see time-as it affects all things. Even as I look at you now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/and-my-eyes-i-see-through-hourglass-pupils-and-therefore-i-see-time/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“You cannot hide from danger. Death floats on the air, creeps through the window, comes with the handshake of a stranger. If we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/you-cannot-hide-from-danger-death-floats-on-the-air-creeps-through/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear the pain of loss, then our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/if-we-deny-love-that-is-given-to-us-if-we-refuse-to-give-love-because/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“Blasted doorknob of a kender”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/blasted-doorknob-of-a-kender/)

[Margaret Weis Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/)

> [“This wasn't in the histories", Raistlin murmured to himself, staring down at the little wretched bodies, his brow furrowed. His eyes flashed. "Perhaps", he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman/this-wasn-t-in-the-histories-raistlin-murmured-to-himself-staring/)

[Margaret Weis &amp; Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More Dragonlance quotes

> [“This wasn't in the histories", Raistlin murmured to himself, staring down at the little wretched bodies, his brow furrowed. His eyes flashed. "Perhaps", he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman/this-wasn-t-in-the-histories-raistlin-murmured-to-himself-staring/)

[Margaret Weis &amp; Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman/)

> [“If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear the pain of loss, then our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/if-we-deny-love-that-is-given-to-us-if-we-refuse-to-give-love-because/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“And my eyes! I see through hourglass pupils and therefore I see time-as it affects all things. Even as I look at you now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/and-my-eyes-i-see-through-hourglass-pupils-and-therefore-i-see-time/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“You cannot hide from danger. Death floats on the air, creeps through the window, comes with the handshake of a stranger. If we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/you-cannot-hide-from-danger-death-floats-on-the-air-creeps-through/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“Blasted doorknob of a kender”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/blasted-doorknob-of-a-kender/)

[Margaret Weis Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-2/)

> [“It is your only way home, my brother! And maybe our only way out of here alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-hickman/it-is-your-only-way-home-my-brother-and-maybe-our-only-way-out-of/)

[Tracy Hickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-hickman/)

> [“The magic will not solve your problems. It will only add to them. The magic will not make people like you. It will increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/the-magic-will-not-solve-your-problems-it-will-only-add-to-them-the/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“ "Turn my back on the world..." the historian repeated softly and slowly, his head moving to face the mage. "Turn my back on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-4/turn-my-back-on-the-world-the-historian-repeated-softly-and-slowly/)

Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

> [“I am a knight of Solamnia. I am the hand of Paladine, of Kiri-Jolith and of Habbakuk on this world. You are on Krynn.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-knaak/i-am-a-knight-of-solamnia-i-am-the-hand-of-paladine-of-kiri-jolith/)

[Richard A. Knaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-knaak/)

> [“Uh, Lunitaris idish, shirak, damen du!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/uh-lunitaris-idish-shirak-damen-du/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

> [“He listened gravely to the discussion of possible danger, but in truth, he paid little heed. Silvanoshei was young, and the young know they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis-tracy-hickman-4/he-listened-gravely-to-the-discussion-of-possible-danger-but-in-truth/)

Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

> [If I am to be judged by those who come after me, let me be judged for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/if-i-am-to-be-judged-by-those-who-come-after-me-let-me-be-judged-for/)

[Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/)

[Browse all 13 Dragonlance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragonlance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I say, did you hear me?\" The old man shook a worn walking stick at the oak. \"I said move it and I meant it! I was sitting on that rock\" -he pointed to a boulder- \"enjoying the rising sun on my old bones when you had the nerve to cast a shadow over it and chill me! Move this instant. I say!\" The tree did not respond. It also did not move. \"I won't take any more of your insolence!\" The old man began to beat on the tree with his stick. \"Move or I'll - I'll -\" \"Someone shut that looney in a cage!\" Fewmaster Toede shouted, galloping back from the front of the caravan. \"Get your hands off me!\" the old man shreiked at the draconians who ran up and accosted him. He beat on them feebly with his staff until they took it away from him. \"Arrest the tree!\" he insisted. \"Obstructing sunlight! That's the charge!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook-a-worn-walking-stick-at-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dragonlance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook-a-worn-walking-stick-at-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/anonymous-1_dragonlance_i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook_112315.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I say, did you hear me?\" The old man shook a worn walking stick at the oak. \"I said move it and I meant it!…” — Anonymous",
                "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": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I say, did you hear me?\"...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook-a-worn-walking-stick-at-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-say-did-you-hear-me-the-old-man-shook-a-worn-walking-stick-at-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
