---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He says, \"This hotel is very cheap, ma…"
description: "\"“He says, \"This hotel is very cheap, ma cherie. The innkeeper behind the desk said our room was forty francs a night but only twenty francs if we made ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png"
---

#  He says, "This hotel is very cheap, ma cherie. The…

![“He says, "This hotel is very cheap, ma cherie. The innkeeper behind the desk said our room was forty francs a night but only twenty francs if we made our own bed." He listens to her breathe. "So I said, 'Oh, we can make our own bed.' And he said, 'Right, I'll get you some nails and wood.'"…” quote by Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png)

> ““He says, "This hotel is very cheap, ma cherie. The innkeeper behind the desk said our room was forty francs a night but only twenty francs if we made our own bed." He listens to her breathe. "So I said, 'Oh, we can make our own bed.' And he said, 'Right, I'll get you some nails and wood.'" Marie-Laure still does not smile.””

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

## About This Quote

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

A modest hotel offers a bargain if guests make their own bed, highlighting thrift and intimacy.

**In simple terms:** Cheap room if you DIY the bed.

Key Takeaway

Find value in simple, collaborative solutions.

Themes

economics hospitality collaboration intimacy

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

literary observational

When to use this quote

- budget travel
- host‑guest relationships
- shared chores

Key Concepts

resourcefulness social interaction

Questions to Reflect On

- How does shared effort affect guest experience?
- What does this reveal about post‑war scarcity?

A Different Perspective

DIY may be impractical for some travelers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [“I think we killed Beck, though,” Quinn said when I released his mouth. “Beck,” I murmured. Beck said something into the bedding that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-think-we-killed-beck-though-quinn-said-when-i-released-his-mouth/)

[Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/)

> [“I like your room," I said truthfully. "Yeah? I like it too. Mom tried to guy it all up when I left for school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/i-like-your-room-i-said-truthfully-yeah-i-like-it-too-mom-tried-to/)

[Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/)

> [I sat on the bed. Neither of us said anything. I wasn't slick and sophisticated enough for this. What do you say to boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-sat-on-the-bed-neither-of-us-said-anything-i-wasn-t-slick-and/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“It was clear that Eleanor had been to bed with a large and random collection of people, but when I suggested she go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/it-was-clear-that-eleanor-had-been-to-bed-with-a-large-and-random/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

> [“I wanted to wake with you in my arms,” he whispered. “Next time, don’t leave the bed,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-wanted-to-wake-with-you-in-my-arms-he-whispered-next-time-don-t/)

[Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/)

> [raking a hand through his hair, he forced his attention to the text she'd left on the coffee table, refusing to dwell on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/raking-a-hand-through-his-hair-he-forced-his-attention-to-the-text/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“We never let Watch get up on the beds,” said Violet softly. “I always let my dog lie on my bed,” said Aunt Jane.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-chandler-warner/we-never-let-watch-get-up-on-the-beds-said-violet-softly-i-always-let/)

[Gertrude Chandler Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-chandler-warner/)

> [“I want to be the only guy who fucks you against windows, and also the first person you see in the morning—from where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/i-want-to-be-the-only-guy-who-fucks-you-against-windows-and-also-the/)

[Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/)

> [“I see. You’re warning me again not to bed him?’ ‘No,’ said Nikandros. ‘I know you’re going to bed him. I’m saying that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-see-you-re-warning-me-again-not-to-bed-him-no-said-nikandros-i-know/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [“Don’t freak out, I’m getting into the bed,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mayberry/don-t-freak-out-i-m-getting-into-the-bed-he-said/)

[Sarah Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mayberry/)

> [“You’re drunk,’ said Damen. ‘You’re not yourself.’ He said, ‘I should take you to bed.’ ‘Then, take me,’ said Laurent. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-re-drunk-said-damen-you-re-not-yourself-he-said-i-should-take-you/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [(Former) working girls make the best wives: man, just think... She will always treat you like a king and appreciate you taking a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-wright/former-working-girls-make-the-best-wives-man-just-think-she-will/)

[Anya Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-wright/)

> [I brought Sammy inside and put him to bed. Said his prayer with him. “‘Now I lay me down to sleep…’” To me, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-brought-sammy-inside-and-put-him-to-bed-said-his-prayer-with-him/)

[Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/)

> [“She let out a rough laugh, close enough that it warmed his face. “Just sleep in the bed,” she said. “I don’t feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-let-out-a-rough-laugh-close-enough-that-it-warmed-his-face-just/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [“Nora was sitting up in bed, surrounded by lace pillows, sipping tea. Hugh perched on the edge of the bed and said: "You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/nora-was-sitting-up-in-bed-surrounded-by-lace-pillows-sipping-tea/)

[Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/)

## More by Anthony Doerr

> [I was a nerdy kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/i-was-a-nerdy-kid/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“he moved neither forward nor backward in time, but merely endured variations of the same day over and over. Maybe he was the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/he-moved-neither-forward-nor-backward-in-time-but-merely-endured/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“Open your eyes, the Frenchman on the radio used to say, and see what you can with them before they close forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/open-your-eyes-the-frenchman-on-the-radio-used-to-say-and-see-what/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“Just when we think we have a system, ...the system collapses. Just when we know our way around, we get lost. Just when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/just-when-we-think-we-have-a-system-the-system-collapses-just-when-we/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“An hour passed and another and then, like a glass of water overfilled - the meniscus inverting, going convex, gravity pulling at the edges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/an-hour-passed-and-another-and-then-like-a-glass-of-water-overfilled/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“For dinner, he orders wild boar cooked with fresh mushrooms. And a full bottle of Bordeaux. Especially during wartime, such things remain important. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/for-dinner-he-orders-wild-boar-cooked-with-fresh-mushrooms-and-a-full/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“Do you know what happens, Etienne,” says Madame Manec from the other side of the kitchen, “when you drop a frog in a pot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/do-you-know-what-happens-etienne-says-madame-manec-from-the-other/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“You ever hope for something so much? So much you can't sleep, so much your skull hurts? But the thing is, you don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/you-ever-hope-for-something-so-much-so-much-you-can-t-sleep-so-much/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“Hope was a sunrise, a friend in the alley, a whisper in an empty corridor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/hope-was-a-sunrise-a-friend-in-the-alley-a-whisper-in-an-empty/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [Time is a slippery thing: lose hold of it once, and its string might sail out of your hands forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/time-is-a-slippery-thing-lose-hold-of-it-once-and-its-string-might/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“...the air a library and the record of every life lived, every sentence spoken, every word transmitted still reverberating within it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/the-air-a-library-and-the-record-of-every-life-lived-every-sentence/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“silent desperation of everything they never said - gaps and absences in every conversation, the past circumscribing the present, the future hemming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/silent-desperation-of-everything-they-never-said-gaps-and-absences-in/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [“She is in charge of everything, but no one knows. It is a tremendous burden, she says, to be responsible for every little thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/she-is-in-charge-of-everything-but-no-one-knows-it-is-a-tremendous/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [I guess you could say I've been writing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/i-guess-you-could-say-i-ve-been-writing-all-my-life/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

> [Only Numbers. Pure math. You have to accustom yourself to thinking that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/only-numbers-pure-math-you-have-to-accustom-yourself-to-thinking-that/)

[Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

[Explore all 336 Anthony Doerr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/)

## More Bed Said quotes

> [“I think we killed Beck, though,” Quinn said when I released his mouth. “Beck,” I murmured. Beck said something into the bedding that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-think-we-killed-beck-though-quinn-said-when-i-released-his-mouth/)

[Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/)

> [“She let out a rough laugh, close enough that it warmed his face. “Just sleep in the bed,” she said. “I don’t feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-let-out-a-rough-laugh-close-enough-that-it-warmed-his-face-just/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [I brought Sammy inside and put him to bed. Said his prayer with him. “‘Now I lay me down to sleep…’” To me, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-brought-sammy-inside-and-put-him-to-bed-said-his-prayer-with-him/)

[Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/)

> [(Former) working girls make the best wives: man, just think... She will always treat you like a king and appreciate you taking a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anya-wright/former-working-girls-make-the-best-wives-man-just-think-she-will/)

[Anya Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anya-wright/)

> [“You’re drunk,’ said Damen. ‘You’re not yourself.’ He said, ‘I should take you to bed.’ ‘Then, take me,’ said Laurent. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/you-re-drunk-said-damen-you-re-not-yourself-he-said-i-should-take-you/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [“Don’t freak out, I’m getting into the bed,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mayberry/don-t-freak-out-i-m-getting-into-the-bed-he-said/)

[Sarah Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mayberry/)

> [“I see. You’re warning me again not to bed him?’ ‘No,’ said Nikandros. ‘I know you’re going to bed him. I’m saying that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-see-you-re-warning-me-again-not-to-bed-him-no-said-nikandros-i-know/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [“I want to be the only guy who fucks you against windows, and also the first person you see in the morning—from where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/i-want-to-be-the-only-guy-who-fucks-you-against-windows-and-also-the/)

[Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/)

> [“We never let Watch get up on the beds,” said Violet softly. “I always let my dog lie on my bed,” said Aunt Jane.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-chandler-warner/we-never-let-watch-get-up-on-the-beds-said-violet-softly-i-always-let/)

[Gertrude Chandler Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-chandler-warner/)

> [raking a hand through his hair, he forced his attention to the text she'd left on the coffee table, refusing to dwell on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/raking-a-hand-through-his-hair-he-forced-his-attention-to-the-text/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“I wanted to wake with you in my arms,” he whispered. “Next time, don’t leave the bed,” he said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-wanted-to-wake-with-you-in-my-arms-he-whispered-next-time-don-t/)

[Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/)

> [“It was clear that Eleanor had been to bed with a large and random collection of people, but when I suggested she go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/it-was-clear-that-eleanor-had-been-to-bed-with-a-large-and-random/)

[Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/)

> [I sat on the bed. Neither of us said anything. I wasn't slick and sophisticated enough for this. What do you say to boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-sat-on-the-bed-neither-of-us-said-anything-i-wasn-t-slick-and/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“I like your room," I said truthfully. "Yeah? I like it too. Mom tried to guy it all up when I left for school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/i-like-your-room-i-said-truthfully-yeah-i-like-it-too-mom-tried-to/)

[Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/)

> [“Nora was sitting up in bed, surrounded by lace pillows, sipping tea. Hugh perched on the edge of the bed and said: "You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/nora-was-sitting-up-in-bed-surrounded-by-lace-pillows-sipping-tea/)

[Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/)

Browse all 38 Bed Said quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“He says, \"This hotel is very cheap, ma cherie. The innkeeper behind the desk said our room was forty francs a night but only twenty francs if we made our own bed.\" He listens to her breathe. \"So I said, 'Oh, we can make our own bed.' And he said, 'Right, I'll get you some nails and wood.'\" Marie-Laure still does not smile.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anthony Doerr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cherie-the-innkeeper-behind-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bed Said"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cherie-the-innkeeper-behind-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/265/anthony-doerr-886_bed-said_he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cher_2495918.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He says, \"This hotel is very cheap, ma cherie. The innkeeper behind the desk said our room was forty francs…” — Anthony Doerr",
                "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": "Anthony Doerr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“He says, \"This hotel is very...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cherie-the-innkeeper-behind-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/he-says-this-hotel-is-very-cheap-ma-cherie-the-innkeeper-behind-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```